HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the House spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

John Thurso: The House purchased food to the value of £2.39 million during the financial year 2010-11.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Pensions

John Hemming: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the level of the Church of England's pension scheme deficit is; and what the capacity of the Church of England is to pay that deficit.

Tony Baldry: The Church of England Pensions Board administers three pension schemes on behalf of the Church of England.
	The Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (the scheme for clergy of the Church of England) had a deficit of £262 million at the last valuation, as at 31 December 2009. That deficit is being recovered over a 12-year period ending 31 December 2022.
	Smaller deficits exist on the other schemes, which are being recovered over shorter periods.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Victims’ Commissioner

Owen Smith: To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and the Director of Public Prosecutions on the timetable for appointing a Victims' Commissioner.

Dominic Grieve: I have not had any discussions on this issue with the Director of Public Prosecutions or ministerial colleagues. Such an appointment would be a matter for the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke).

Crown Prosecution Service

Robert Buckland: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the potential effect on fairness of proceedings of the proposal by the London Area Crown Prosecution Service for prosecutors to make oral rather than written applications for the admission of hearsay and bad character evidence in proceedings in magistrates courts.

Dominic Grieve: The principles which govern how hearsay and bad character applications are considered by the courts are prescribed by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the common law, and cannot be changed by any policy of the Crown Prosecution Service. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2011 allow notices and applications to adduce hearsay and bad character to be in writing, but also provide the courts with discretion to permit notices to be given or applications to be made orally and even to dispense with requirements for notice altogether. There is nothing inherently unfair in notices and applications being given or made orally. The rules apply across England and Wales.
	It is envisaged that prosecutors will ask for permission to make notices/applications orally where they consider it appropriate in the circumstances of the case. Where the defence oppose this approach they are entitled to make representations on the issue. As part of its duty to actively manage cases, the court will then consider whether to allow notice to be given in the form proposed. The court will determine the issue in a way that best furthers the overriding objective of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2011—that criminal cases be dealt with justly.

SCOTLAND

European Council

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on Scotland's interests in the EU following the Prime Minister's use of a veto at the recent European Council.

Michael Moore: At a time of economic hardship, both coalition parties supported a UK negotiating position that would have provided stability and reassurance to our financial sector while maintaining the integrity of the EU single market and allowing eurozone members to achieve greater fiscal union.
	The UK financial sector provides direct employment for more than 90,000 people in Scotland, and indirect employment for many tens of thousands more, representing up to one in 10 Scottish jobs, and the negotiating position was the right one for our country.

PRIME MINISTER

Civil Servants

James Gray: To ask the Prime Minister if serving civil servants are obliged to register at the time any approach received to leave the civil service to take up paid work in the private sector; and if so, since when they have been so obliged.

David Cameron: Arrangements are set out in the Business Appointment Rules for civil servants which are contained in Section 4.3 Annex A of the Civil Service Management Code
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/civil-service-management-code

EU Action

Angus Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister from which Departments Ministers and officials who accompanied him to the recent European Council were drawn.

David Cameron: Details of ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly.

Japan Tobacco International

Peter Hain: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he and (b) his special advisers have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010.

David Cameron: Hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published on a quarterly basis.
	Details can be found on the Cabinet Office website:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations-april-june
	and
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-advisers-gifts-and-hospitality-april-june-2011

Joint Ministerial Committee

Angus Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects the Joint Ministerial Committee to meet.

David Cameron: I and ministerial colleagues are in regular contact with devolved Governments, including through the forthcoming Domestic and European sub-committee meetings.

Members: Surveillance

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has reviewed the Wilson doctrine; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Karl McCartney) on 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 501W.

DEFENCE

Adam Werritty

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the pre-posting briefing meeting held in the Ministry of Defence in September 2010 for Mr Matthew Gould as HM Ambassador Designate to Israel with his predecessor and Mr Adam Werritty, referred to at paragraph 6, page 2 of the report by the Cabinet Secretary on allegations against right hon. Dr Liam Fox MP was held in a private official room; which departmental officials were present at that meeting; whether official notes of the meeting were taken; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 12 December 2011
	As the Cabinet Secretary’s report states
	“I understand that this was a general discussion on international defence and security matters to enable Mr Gould better to understand MOD’s perspective of the security situation in the Middle East.”
	The meeting was held in the Defence Secretary’s office. Mr Gould was present as Her Majesty’s Ambassador Designate. It was a general discussion; no officials from the Ministry of Defence were present, therefore no official record or notes were taken.

Air Force: Military Bases

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence his Department has received from the Scottish Government on their RAF basing review.

Nick Harvey: We do not normally publish private correspondence between the Department and the devolved Administrations.

Armed Forces: Pay

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to protect and improve the overall financial package for armed forces personnel.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 19 December 2011
	To protect and improve the overall financial package for armed forces personnel, we have ensured that all those eligible for incremental pay continue to receive this, even in times of a pay freeze. This ensures around 70% of service personnel receive a pay rise every year. We have further ensured that all those earning under £21,000 per annum have received a £250 consolidated pay rise, while the pay freeze is in place. Once the pay freeze is lifted, we will enable an uplift of 1% in the armed forces’ pay bill in addition to all those eligible continuing to receive their incremental pay. We have doubled the operational allowance to over £5,000 for a tour of six months and increased council tax rebate to 50% for those on operations and, following necessary reductions to allowances announced in Strategic Defence and Security Review, we have ensured that we retain an appropriate and proportionate allowance package.
	In addition, our work on the new employment model programme aims to strike a better balance between service and the demands placed on service personnel and their families, adjusting the elements that make up the offer to better reflect how people actually live, to ensure that a career in the armed forces remains attractive and competitive.

Armed Forces: Pay

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason he has not adopted the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

Andrew Robathan: Successive Governments have accepted in full, without staging, all Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommendations since 1999. In 1998 a recommendation for one group of medical personnel was abated by 0.5%. The Pay Review Body’s next report is expected in early 2012.

Procurement

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, columns 428-9W, on departmental procurement, on what basis the sample of 42 projects out of a total of 2,580 was selected; what those 42 projects were; and whether it is the standard practice of his Department to conduct an audit of projects on the basis of a sample size of 1.5 per cent.

Nick Harvey: To identify whether the controls were operating effectively, the selection was based partly on a random sample and partly on the basis of suspected non-compliance. The 42 tasks were as follows:
	Riskhive training courses
	Ballast water report and develop operating procedures
	Centralised data warehouse
	Safety management system
	Project safety and airworthiness tasks
	Upgrade airworthiness and safety data repository
	Medical consumables schedule
	Technical support to the attrition requirement
	Review of cost estimates
	Threat hazard assessment and ship explosive safety case reports
	Signal smoke parachutist assessment
	Review and update of safety and environmental report
	Invitation to tender bid evaluation report
	Business agreement negotiations and business case development
	Legacy finance tasks
	Requirements manager
	Security assurance co-ordinator
	Transport of vehicles
	Requirements analysis and solution exploration
	Defence information infrastructure input to the Joint Project Co-ordination Office
	Human resource transition strategy
	Revision to ‘Green Book’—(An intro to environmental management in the MoD acquisition process)
	Provision of technical support x 7
	Bowman management information systems subject matter expert
	Requirements capture and control
	Installations and systems safety
	Future installations support
	Independent safety advice
	Specialist technical support—business solutions requirements manager
	Initial programme design
	Specialist technical support—Crypto x 2
	Development of user training materials
	Development of training requirements specialist technical advice
	Security specialist technical support.
	The sample size varies depending on the audit, timescales, resources etc. In this case it was originally intended to review a sample of 25 to identify whether controls were effective, but this was later extended.

Depleted Uranium

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has implemented his plans to phase out depleted uranium ammunition for the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System in favour of tungsten.

Nick Harvey: Yes. All Phalanx Close-in Weapon System ammunition containing depleted uranium was made available for disposal in May 2010.

Navy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Royal Navy submarines have docked at (a) Southampton and (b) Plymouth in each of the last five years.

Nick Harvey: Three Royal Navy submarines have docked at Southampton in the last five years. The specific information of individual dockings in Plymouth is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There are, however, around 180 individual submarine movements per year in the dockyard port of Plymouth.

Navy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Royal Navy personnel was at sea on average in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: As of 15 December 2011, there were approximately 12% of the total naval service, including Royal Fleet Auxiliary, personnel deployed at sea.

Public Private Partnerships: Private Finance Initiative

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on (a) public private partnerships and (b) private finance initiative provision; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: Public private partnerships (PPP) cover all types of collaboration across the private-public sector interface involving collaborative working and risk sharing to deliver policies, services, and infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) follows HM Treasury policy in this area and adopts these arrangements where they offer best value for money.
	Similarly, the policy for private finance initiatives (PFI) is set by HM Treasury and implemented by the MOD Private Finance Unit. The MOD has no preference for PFI over any other form of procurement and continues to consider the use of private finance alongside all other appropriate acquisition options at the outset of all procurements. No MOD projects are currently pursuing a PFI procurement strategy.
	The MOD intends to play an active part in contributing to the reform agenda for PFI announced to the House on 15 November 2011, Official Report, columns 34-35WS, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding his Department allocated to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: As at 31 March 2011, there were 929.3 full-time equivalent staff employed by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), and 827.2 as at 30 November 2011.
	£110.976 million was allocated to the SPVA for financial year (FY) 2010-11, and £111.035 million for FY 2011-12. The increase for financial year 2011-12 relates to operating costs associated with the Armed Forced Redundancy Scheme and the issue of the Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Waste Disposal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many times the Royal Navy has witnessed foreign naval vessels dumping waste into the UK exclusive economic zone waters in each of the last five years; and what the location was in each such case;
	(2)  whether he has received reports that waste has been disposed into the sea off the Scottish coast from the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov;
	(3)  whether the Royal Navy has contacted the National Maritime Intelligence Centre concerning reports of waste being disposed into the sea off the Scottish coast by the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.

Andrew Robathan: In accordance with international agreed pollution reporting, HMS York reported she observed items in the sea off the coast of Scotland. The Royal Navy passed this information to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who are responsible for enforcement of maritime pollution regulations via the National Maritime Information Centre. Various internal Ministry of Defence departments were also notified. Due to the weather conditions and time of day it was not possible to positively identify the items or pick them up for analysis.
	The Royal Navy does not hold, and is not required to hold, records of incidents involving foreign naval vessels dumping waste into the UK exclusive economic zone waters.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Mental Function Champions are employed by Atos Healthcare for the purposes of the work capability assessment (a) in total and (b) in each region.

Chris Grayling: There are 60 Mental Function Champions employed by Atos Healthcare nationally for the purpose of work capability assessment. They are spread to cover all work capability assessments as necessary and based in the following regions:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Midlands and London areas 15 
			 Northern England 21 
			 Scotland 8 
			 Southern England and Wales 16

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Atos Customer Charter will next be reviewed.

Chris Grayling: The Atos Healthcare Customer Charter will be reviewed in 2012.

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the trial of the deployment of Atos-approved health care professionals in benefit centres.

Chris Grayling: There are no plans to publish the outcome as the evaluation was aimed at advising the internal DWP decision-making process to determine next steps for health care professional deployment in benefit centres for ESA and IB reassessment cases. Results of the trial were positive with both DWP decision makers and Atos Healthcare professionals benefiting from the arrangement. However, at the end of the trial, Atos Healthcare professional capacity pressures meant that the initiative could not be continued. From the start of December, DWP and Atos have agreed the implementation of a telephone helpline so that decision makers can speak directly to health care professionals to obtain medical advice in specific cases. This is an interim arrangement until Atos are in a position to reintroduce the deployment of health care professionals in benefit centres.

Atos Healthcare

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos-approved health care professionals are deployed in benefit centres (a) in total and (b) in each region.

Chris Grayling: There are currently no Atos Healthcare professionals deployed in benefit centres for ESA and IB re-assessment cases as Atos Healthcare professional capacity pressures meant that the initiative could not progress beyond the trial. From the start of December, DWP and Atos have agreed the implementation of a telephone help line so that decision makers can speak directly to health care professionals to obtain medical advice in specific cases. This is an interim arrangement until Atos are in a position to re-introduce the deployment of health care professionals in benefit centres.

Atos Healthcare: Training

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days of training are provided to approved healthcare professionals working for Atos Healthcare to undertake the work capability assessment in dealing with mental health conditions that are not within their clinical specialism.

Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare only train health care professionals approved by my Department.
	These professionals receive, as a minimum, to undertake the work capability assessment:
	11 days for doctors of which five days are for mental health training
	23 days for nurses of which nine days are for mental health training
	26 days for physiotherapists of which 14 days are for mental health training
	There is continual professional development offered to support carrying out work capability assessments, including the assessment of mental health conditions.

Parliamentary Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 Session to date.

Chris Grayling: In the 2010-12 Session to the end of November 2011, 4,250 questions for ordinary written answer had received a substantive response, of which:
	(a) 3,491 (82%) were answered within 10 sitting days;
	(b) 547 (13%) were answered between 11 and 20 sitting days;
	(c) 118 (3%) were answered between 21 and 30 sitting days; and
	(d) 95 (2%) were answered in more than 30 sitting days.
	The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Employment and Support Allowance

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in the work-related activity group of contributory employment and support allowance with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other long-term degenerative conditions.

Chris Grayling: The information requested relating to people with multiple sclerosis is given as follows.
	The term degenerative disease/condition is a general one; it may apply to any condition that leads to gradual deterioration, therefore this can encompass a wide variety of conditions. This may include conditions as diverse as neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal conditions and even cancer. It is therefore difficult to quantify the conditions to which the question refers.
	
		
			 Employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in the work-related activity group, with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in Great Britain, May 2011 
			  All Claimants with a contributory element 
			 Claimants in the work- related activity group 209,140 102,010 
			 Multiple sclerosis 1,640 1,250 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Benefit type: The type of ESA is defined as pay status at the caseload date—this may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim. 3. Phase/stage of ESA claim is derived from payment details held on the source system. Where the claimant is not in receipt of any benefit payment then the stage of benefit is shown as unknown. 4. There are a number of claimants entitled to both the contributory and income-based elements of ESA. Source: DWP, Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS).

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions an individual who claimed employment and support allowance on or after 31 October 2011 did not receive a telephone call from the Jobcentre Plus decision maker advising what would happen following the outcome of the work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: The telephone call by the decision maker to explain the outcome of the work capability assessment (WCA) was introduced as part of the Harrington review changes to better support customers making a claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) on or after 31 October 2011. Due to the length of time it takes to complete the WCA process, telephone calls have not yet commenced for the majority of claimants. Telephone calls have been completed for some straight-forward cases, where the claimant has been found to have limited capability for work and no face-to-face assessment was required. For claimants who have attended a face-to-face assessment and been found to have no limited capability for work calls are expected to commence in the new year.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the ESA50 questionnaire; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the ESA50 questionnaire; and when he next plans to review the ESA50 questionnaire.

Chris Grayling: The ESA50 questionnaire was reviewed during late 2010 and early 2011. This resulted in a new version of the ESA50 questionnaire being launched on 14 March 2011. This version incorporated many of the recommendations made by Professor Harrington and a number of disability groups consulted as part of the review.
	As the Government set out in their response to Professor Harrington's second independent review, we are now working with Mind, Mencap and the National Autistic Society to review the ESA50 questionnaire in light of the recommendations they made to Professor Harrington to improve the WCA.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many formal complaints he has received in relation to the ESA50 questionnaire since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: There is no central record of formal complaints received in relation to form ESA50, the work capability assessment questionnaire. The ESA50 questionnaire is kept under review taking account of individual complaints received.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the main employment and support allowance letters; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the main employment and support allowance letters; and when he next plans to review the main employment and support allowance letters.

Chris Grayling: Minor changes were made to the main employment and support allowance letters in May 2011 to improve the clarity in distinction between contributory and income-related ESA. Further small improvements may be made in the future if there is the capacity for changes to computer systems and funding permits. Letters are currently being reviewed as part of the proposals to time-limit ESA from 2012. There are no plans to publish a review of ESA letters.

Employment and Support Allowance: Drugs

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the classification by Atos of employment and support allowance recipients who are receiving residential treatment for drug or alcohol misuse as having limited capability for work without requiring them to attend a face-to-face assessment.

Chris Grayling: In March 2011, we revised employment and support allowance legislation to ensure that it met the policy intent to treat claimants as having limited capability for work on any day they attend residential rehabilitation for the treatment of drug or alcohol addiction. This widened the original provision to cover individuals receiving such treatment as part of a residential programme where no medical staff are present.
	We have not provided Atos Healthcare with specific guidance on the classification of residential treatment; as we believe it has a commonly understood meaning. The policy intent is to ensure that we consider a wider scope of programmes that could satisfy this provision. It is for Atos Healthcare practitioners to gather and review the evidence on this issue and then provide advice on whether they consider the provision to be satisfied. It is then for departmental decision makers to consider all the available evidence and make a decision on entitlement.
	During summer 2011, DWP officials engaged with the National Treatment Agency to better communicate the intent of this provision. We have received no other representation.

Employment Schemes

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Work Choice programme and (b) the Government's policies on job retention for those with neurological conditions.

Maria Miller: Qualitative research on the effectiveness of the Work Choice programme is being undertaken in a phased approach. The first stage of this was published on 24 November 2011. This document/publication is available on our website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/ihs-index.asp
	The Department has a programme of activity to help working-age people with a health condition remain in or return to work, by working with other Government Departments, devolved Governments and three key stakeholder groups: employers (specifically focusing on providing SME businesses with a greater capacity to deal effectively with health issues and sickness absence), health care professionals (to engender cultural change within the health care professions to ensure that good quality back-to-work advice is embedded in good clinical practice in primary and secondary care) and the participants themselves (focusing on supporting them to retain work when health issues arise). This support is not condition specific and so not specifically targeted at those with neurological conditions.
	The Department continues to carry out research with GPs to evaluate the statement of fitness for work, or fit note. Qualitative research with GPs on the fit note was published in November 2011 and is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/report_abstracts/rr_abstracts/rra_780.asp
	Two further pieces of research, an employee survey and a project involving the collection of fit note data, which will examine causes of sickness absence from work where a fit note was issued, will be published at the end of 2012 and in summer 2013 respectively.
	The Department plans to publish an evaluation of the occupational health advice service pilots in February 2012. An interim report was published in the summer and is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/summ2011-2012/DWP_occ_health_summ.pdf
	The Department plans to publish data from year one of the fit for work service pilots, including research with clients, management information, and interviews with key stakeholders, in early 2012. The final evaluation report, which will include interviews with service users and comparison data for an impact study, will be published in late 2012.

Every Decision Counts

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Every Decision Counts events his Department has held (a) in total and (b) in each region.

Chris Grayling: A total of 11 Every Decision Counts events have been held since September 2010. The events are telephone audio conferences and are open to decision makers within DWP the Benefits Directorate across all regions of the UK.

General Medical Council

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made a submission to the General Medical Council consultation on good medical practice on the duty of a health care professional and the return of a patient to employment.

Chris Grayling: The Department did make a recent submission to the General Medical Council's consultation on good medical practice. This has been placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit: Offenders

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to include ex-offenders in the category of vulnerable people for the purposes of direct payment of housing benefit to landlords.

Steve Webb: Currently in housing benefit, for the vast majority of tenants in the social rented sector, rent is paid direct to the landlord. In the private rented sector, the local housing allowance is paid direct to the tenant unless they have built up arrears of eight weeks or more. Additional safeguards are in place for people to allow for payment to the landlord where the local authority feels that a tenant is likely to have difficulty paying their rent. This could include people who have recently left prison.
	In preparation for universal credit, we are running six housing demonstration projects from June 2012 to June 2013 to test out elements of a direct payment to tenant process. This includes testing how we can provide support and exemptions for those who are less able to manage financially. An evaluation of the projects will be conducted by independent contractors; CRESR at Sheffield Hallam University, the Oxford Institute of Social Policy (OISP) at the University of Oxford, and Ipsos MORI.

Housing Benefit: Pensioners

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the (a) equity and (b) financial pressures on other vulnerable groups arising from the measures in respect of pensioners proposed for housing benefit reform.

Steve Webb: As part of the proposed benefit reforms outlined in the Welfare Reform Bill, housing benefit will be abolished. The proposal is that support for eligible rent for pensioners will form part of pension credit with the introduction of a new housing credit. The policy on this housing credit is still being developed and the impacts will form part of the overall assessment being developed to support the Welfare Reform Bill. This will include the impacts on all groups from the wider benefit reforms being proposed. I have included a list of published impact assessments on housing benefit reform as follows:
	Consumer prices index uprating of local housing allowance (Welfare Reform Bill)
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hb-lha-cpi-uprating-wr2011-ia.pdf
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-lha-cpi-uprating-wr2011.pdf
	Local housing allowance changes
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-impact-nov10.pdf
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/impacts-of-hb-proposals.pdf
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-eia-nov10.pdf
	Non-dependant deduction changes
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-ndd-2011.pdf

Housing Benefit: Tenants

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of tenants on whether the housing benefit element of universal credit should be paid directly to the tenant rather than the registered social landlord.

Steve Webb: My officials regularly attend housing forums and conferences at which tenants and their organisations are present. More specifically we shall be engaging with tenants as part of the demonstration projects, due to commence in June 2012. A major aspect of the projects will be an independent evaluation which will look at the claimant experience.
	More information on the demonstration projects can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare%2Dreform/housing%2Dsupport/social%2Dsector/

Incapacity Benefits

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the incapacity benefit reassessment letters; if he will publish the outcome of his most recent review of the incapacity benefit reassessment letters; and when he next plans to review the incapacity benefit reassessment letters.

Chris Grayling: In May 2011 changes were made to reassessment letters as part of a release of various IT improvements to reflect feedback that had been received about the quality of reassessment letters from claimants and customer representative groups. There are no plans for a general review of all reassessment letters or for publication of such a review. We continue to keep letters under review in the light of feedback received and other changes such as amendments to legislation.

Jobcentre Plus: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness amongst Jobcentre Plus staff.

Chris Grayling: All Jobcentre Plus staff undertake diversity and equality learning to raise awareness and help them understand issues faced by disabled customers and claimants, including those who are deaf or hearing impaired and other customers with “hidden” disabilities. Jobcentre Plus advisers and disability employment advisers also receive additional training on disability to enable them to provide the right support to individual customers and claimants. This is supplemented by guidance which includes advice on making reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including deaf people, to ensure they have full access to services. This approach ensures staff are fully equipped to deal effectively with the needs of a diverse customer base.
	Training packages also stress the importance of sign- posting customers and claimants to organisations where they can obtain specialist help and support, when required. The learning includes improving accessibility to Jobcentre Plus services by supporting customers and claimants with specific communication barriers, including the use of loop-aids, text phones, “typetalk” and interpreters. There is also practical advice given on talking to customers and claimants with a hearing impairment. Jobcentre Plus and DWP learning and support materials are updated regularly to ensure they reflect advancements in practices and techniques, enabling staff to provide a high quality, personalised and flexible service to meet the needs of all our customers and claimants.

Jobseeker's Allowance

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria will be used to determine eligibility for his proposed wage incentives scheme after (a) three and (b) six months in receipt of jobseeker's allowance.

Chris Grayling: 160,000 wage incentives worth £2,275 each will be available to employers who recruit an 18 to 24-year-old who is participating in the Work programme.
	The point at which an 18 to 24-year-old is referred to the Work programme depends on the type of benefit they are claiming and their individual circumstances.
	Some of the most disadvantaged young people claiming jobseekers allowance (JSA) will be required to participate in the Work programme after three months of their claim to JSA. Others, for example care leavers and those with substance abuse problems, have the option of accessing the Work Programme after three months of their JSA claim. 18 to 24-year-olds without additional disadvantages will be referred to the Work programme after nine months.
	18 to 24-year-olds claiming employment and support allowance (ESA) who are expected to be fit for work within 3 or 6 months are required to participate in the Work programme from the date of their work capability assessment. All other 18 to 24-year-olds claiming ESA can volunteer for the Work programme from the date of their work capability assessment.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Bridgend

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claim jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in Bridgend constituency; how many people he estimates would receive JSA if the work capability assessment (WCA) were applied to all existing recipients of employment and support allowance (ESA) and incapacity benefit (IB) in Bridgend constituency; how many people he estimates would be in the work-related group of ESA if the WCA were applied to all existing recipients of ESA and IB in Bridgend constituency; how many job vacancies originating in Bridgend constituency were advertised by Jobcentre Plus in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: In November 2011, 1,809 people were claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in the Bridgend constituency.
	In May 2011, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,230 claimants of employment and support allowance (ESA) in Bridgend constituency, of which, 440 were in the work-related activity group. There were also 3,400 working-age claimants of old-style incapacity benefits (incapacity benefit, income support on the grounds of incapacity, and severe disablement allowance).
	The Department regularly publishes national and regional information on the outcomes of the work capability assessment (WCA) for ESA claimants. Equivalent information is not available at parliamentary constituency level. However, for Bridgend unitary authority, for all initial WCAs completed between October 2008 and May 2011, 2,200 (60%) were assessed to be fit for work. Of those who have subsequently closed their claim, around 800 went on to make a claim for JSA shortly after being assessed as fit for work. There may also be some individuals who did not initially move on to JSA but made a claim at a later date. However, of those who have claimed JSA since closing an ESA claim, some will have since moved off benefits altogether.
	Many existing IB claimants in Bridgend will be undergoing reassessment over a three-year period from April 2011 and it is not possible to determine at this early stage how many people will be assessed as in the work-related activity group or how many will claim JSA as a result of being assessed as fit for work.
	Jobcentre Plus has received the following vacancies over the past year:
	
		
			 Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus, Bridgend 
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 December 431 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 483 
			 February 579 
			 March 439 
			 April 676 
			 May 991 
			 June 1,011 
			 July 673 
			 August 560 
			 September 601 
			 October 660 
			 November 545 
			 Note: Figures are not seasonally adjusted but are standardised on to a 4 1/3 week basis. Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk

Office for Nuclear Regulation: Pay

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 582W, on departmental pay, for what reason and on what date the decision was taken to pay two senior staff in the Office for Nuclear Regulation by means of payments to limited companies in lieu of a salary; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: These arrangements were entered into for the first interim in November 2008 and the second in February 2010. The decisions to do so were taken in the preceding weeks in each case to fill quickly temporary senior staff positions needed in the nuclear regulatory area of HSE. The cost of the posts is recovered from the nuclear industry, The individuals concerned were not available for employment except through payment to limited companies.

Part-time Employment: Pensions

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of part-time workers are members of a pension scheme.

Steve Webb: In 2010, 34% of part-time employees in Great Britain were members of an occupational pension scheme.
	This comprises 39% part-time females (2.1 million) and 19% part-time males (0.3 million).

Pension Credit: Bridgend

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual level of savings to the public purse which will accrue from reforming pension credit to require both partners to be eligible for pension credit in order to qualify for the couples rate; how many couples in Bridgend constituency comprise one person of working age and one person eligible for pension credit; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Government have decided that for households where one member of a couple is over the qualifying age for pension credit and the other member is of working age, only universal credit will be available.
	The Government believe that all people of working age who can work should be expected to do so and that it is not right to continue the current position where pension credit can go to households which contain a person of working age without that person having to meet any work-related requirements. The universal credit approach provides financial support to such couples, while giving the working age member of the couple access to support in finding work.
	We have already acknowledged that it will be important not to undermine the stability and outcomes for existing pension credit customers, so the change will not apply to couples already in receipt who will continue to get pension credit while they retain entitlement.
	It is estimated that this policy could save up to £100 million over this spending review. Because of the interaction with other changes to support pensioners, which are still being developed, we are not yet able to provide a firm estimate for a long-run figure for savings.
	There are approximately *100 claimants on pension credit in the Bridgend constituency with a partner aged under 60.
	Notes:
	1. *This figure is based on very few sample cases and is subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	2. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	3. The estimate of the number of claimants assumes that pension credit is available when one partner reaches age 60. However, the qualifying age for pension credit is increasing in line with the increase in women’s state pension age. At February 2011, the qualifying age for pension credit was between 60 and four months and 60 and five months. Current data do not allow analysis that takes account of the increase in qualifying age.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample.

Pensioners: Personal Income

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioner households whose combined income is higher than the average combined working household income.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member on 14 December 2011, Official Report, column 762W. Since some pensioner benefits—notably pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit—are paid to couples, rather than individuals, it is only possible with the data available to provide an answer at household level.

Pensions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have met representatives of (i) the British Bankers Association and (ii) the Association of British Insurers to discuss the charges or commission or fees paid by people with a private pension; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The Department publishes on a quarterly basis details of all meetings between DWP Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and external organisations. The following links will give access to information up to and including 30 June 2011.
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ps-meetings-external-orgs.shtml
	Senior officials have met with representatives of the Association of British Insurers. One meeting, on 2 November, included a discussion of the issues concerned.

Pensions

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the burden of administration for the pensions industry.

Steve Webb: The burden of administration for the pensions industry will be reviewed as part of the Department's response to the Red Tape Challenge.
	The Red Tape Challenge (RTC) is a cross-government initiative, led by Cabinet Office, which seeks to review all Government legislation, with an emphasis on those statutory instruments which affect business. The aim of the RTC is to revoke or simplify as much legislation as possible to ease burdens on employers and business.
	Pensions will be highlighted as a main theme on the RTC website in spring for three weeks. This Spotlight period will encourage members of the public to reflect on pensions regulations and provide a focus for the pensions part of the RTC generally.
	The Department views this as a real opportunity to look objectively at pensions policy and go back to first principles to consider whether the legislation as it stands reflects the Department's priorities, is generally fit for purpose and does not place undue burdens on the pensions industry. We are in the early stages of this process.
	We will be looking to work closely with stakeholders on the RTC throughout this process—beginning in the new year. There will be extensive scope for all interested parties to offer their views on how pension legislation can be simplified and what can be removed.
	In addition, we are also reviewing the legislation which requires pension schemes to disclose information to their members (and others—beneficiaries, for example). Our aim is to consolidate, clarify and, where possible, harmonise the requirements for occupational and personal pension schemes. We are also deleting some requirements and enabling schemes to disclose more information electronically. We intend to consult on draft regulations and introduce the updated legislation during 2012; early discussions with stakeholders indicate that they support the proposals.

Social Security Benefits

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he expects to projected spending on each benefit for which his Department is responsible as a result of the measures announced in the Autumn Statement.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Housing benefit: Exemption from the shared room rate for former rough sleepers and ex-offenders 
			 Benefit expenditure change (£ million) 
			  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-1 6 2016-17 
			 Housing benefit 10 15 15 15 15 
		
	
	
		
			 Jobseeker's allowance: Access to full-time training 
			 Benefit expenditure change (£ million) 
			  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-1 6 2016-17 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 5 5 5 5 5 
		
	
	
		
			 Working tax credit: Freeze the couple and lone parent elements for one year in 2012-13; Child tax credit: Remove the £110 child element for 2012-13 
			 Benefit expenditure change (£ million) 
			  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 
			 Income support -5 -5 — — — 
			 Housing benefit 55 55 57 59 61 
		
	
	
		
			 Pension c redit uprating 
			 Benefit expenditure change (£ million) 
			  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 
			 Pension credit -10 -10 -10 -12 -14 
			 Council tax benefit 4 5 5 5 5 
			 Rent allowance 6 7 7 7 7 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £ million. 2. Expenditure shown is for Great Britain.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long a citizen of an east European (A8) member of the EU has to be in the UK before they can claim (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) other benefits.

Chris Grayling: There is no set period in which an A8(1) national must reside in the UK before they can claim benefits. Since 1 May 2011, A8 nationals have had the same access to the UK labour market and benefit system as nationals of other, longer established EEA member states.
	To claim any benefit, individuals must meet the normal entitlement conditions of that benefit, including any residence requirements. For example, A8 nationals who have worked in the UK and paid national insurance contributions may claim contributory benefits such as contribution-based jobseeker's allowance as soon as they satisfy the contributions and other conditions for the benefit.
	A8 workers, like any other EEA nationals who have not paid sufficient contributions may claim income-based jobseeker's allowance providing they satisfy the habitual residence test. This requires an individual to demonstrate that they have a right to reside and are habitually resident in the common travel area(2). Those who are not defined as workers or who are not actively seeking work are generally unable to claim any income-related benefits regardless of the length of time they have lived in the UK.
	The UK non-contributory disability benefits (disability living allowance, attendance allowance and carer's allowance) have residence and presence conditions, which require claimants to be ordinarily resident and to be present in the UK for 26 out of the last 52 weeks. Migrants do not have to satisfy the residence and presence conditions so long as they remain in work in the UK. In other cases, where the claimant has not been present for 26 out of 52 weeks, the UK must consider whether the claimant has a sufficient link to the UK before allowing a claim.
	(1) The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
	(2) The United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland.

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances the pay and conditions of employees transferred out of public sector employment under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 may be reduced in their new employment; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister with responsibility for employment law. The pay and conditions (excluding certain occupational pension rights) of employees transferred out of the public sector under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 may not be reduced as part of a transfer, unless there is an economic, technical or organisational reason requiring changes to the workforce.
	Occupational pension rights earned up to the time of the transfer are protected by social security legislation and pension trust arrangements. The new employer is not required to continue identical occupational pension arrangements for the transferred employees. However, where employees were entitled to participate in an occupational pension scheme prior to the transfer, the new employer must establish a minimum level of pension provision.

Unemployed People: Medical Conditions

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people unable to work due to endometriosis;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people unable to work due to inflammatory bowel disease.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is given as follows.
	
		
			 Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance and employment support allowance claimants with a medical condition—May 2011 
			 Medical condition Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance Employment and support allowance 
			 Endometriosis 810 450 
			 Inflammatory Bowel Disease 8,650 2,740 
			 Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Incapacity benefit was replaced for new cases by employment support allowance (ESA) From 27 October 2008. 3. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, published by the World Health Organisation. 4. To qualify for incapacity benefit (IB), claimants have to undertake an assessment of incapacity for work called a personal capability assessment. Under the employment support allowance regime, new claimants have to undergo the work capability assessment. From April 2011 Incapacity benefit recipients will begin also to undertake this assessment. The medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance. So, for example, a decision on entitlement for customer claiming Incapacity Benefit on the basis of alcoholism would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities assessed by the personal/work capability assessment; or on the effects of any associated mental health problems. 5. Medical condition is based on evidence provided at the start of the claim, this in itself does not confer entitlement to incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance or employment and support allowance and may not represent a claimant's most recent medical condition. Please also note that where someone has more than one diagnosis or disabling condition, only the predominant one is currently recorded. 6. The category 'Inflammatory Bowel Disease' includes those with the 'Crohns Disease' and ‘Ulcerative Colitis’ diagnoses. Sources: 1. DWP Information, Governance and Security. 2. Directorate: 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Vocational Training

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish his skills strategy.

John Hayes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government published their skills strategy “Skills for Sustainable Growth” alongside “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” in November 2010. The documents together describe the principles, objectives and direction of our reforms of the skills system. Since then we have greatly expanded apprenticeships places, introduced major local freedoms and flexibilities in skills provision placing learners, employers and communities in the driving seat, and introduced the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF). The GIF will help businesses to act collectively to develop effective solutions to skills barriers that are hampering their growth potential.
	Apprenticeships are at the heart of the system we are building, and we are well on course to deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years compared with the previous Administration’s plans. Our ambition is that the UK should have a world class skills base that is socially inclusive, supports growth and provides a consistent source of competitive advantage. “Skills for Sustainable Growth” and “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” can be accessed at
	www.bis.gov.uk/skillsforgrowth
	On 1 December, this Department published “New Challenges, New Chances” describing the Government’s strategy for further education and skills for the rest of this Parliament. I wrote to all MPs on 5 December setting out our reform plan and how it will build on the successes already achieved, based on the principles underpinning “Skills for Sustainable Growth”. It will also take into account the responses to our “New Challenges, New Chances” consultation which can be accessed at
	www.bis.gov.uk/consultations
	As a model of public sector reform, we are simultaneously reducing legislative burdens and removing centrally dictated restraints to empower learners to shape the skills system, from basic skills provision through to the higher level skills most critical to growth. Copies of all the documents referred to are available in the Libraries of the House.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the report on the work capability assessment by Professor Harrington, what additional support measures he has put in place for those undergoing the work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: We are committed to continuously improving the work capability assessment (WCA) to ensure that it is as fair and accurate as possible. Good progress has been made in improving the process, as reflected by Professor Harrington in his second independent review of the WCA. In this review he stated that,
	“The WCA has, in my view, noticeably changed for the better”.
	To further improving the WCA process, Professor Harrington has made some additional recommendations in his second independent review. We welcome these recommendations and have accepted the majority of them. We are also carrying out further work to consider how we may take forward the remaining recommendations.
	We will continue to review and refine the WCA to ensure that it is more effective; fairer for all claimants and as a result fairer for the taxpayer.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions an individual who has undergone a work capability assessment since 6 June 2011 has not received a personalised summary statement of the work capability assessment in plain English.

Chris Grayling: The personalised summary statement was included in the Atos assessment report and made available to DWP decision makers from 6 June 2011. However the statements have not been routinely shared with all claimants. A trial was completed between 11 July and 9 September 2011 to issue the personalised summary statement to disallowed ESA claimants. A total of 452 statements were issued as part of this trial. Following this, a separate trial commenced in Oldham benefit centre on 12 September 2011 to routinely share with disallowed claimants the decision maker's reasons for the decision instead of the Atos statement. Based on the Oldham trial, issuing the decision maker's reasons for the decision is being introduced nationally from January 2012 for IB reassessment and ESA claimants found to have no limited capability for work. The Atos assessment report, which includes the personalised summary statement, is available to all claimants on request.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the trials of personalised summary statements in (a) Wrexham and (b) Oldham benefit centre; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: There are no plans to publish the outcomes from the trials in Wrexham and Oldham benefit centres. Professor Harrington recommended as part of his first review issuing the Atos personalised summary statement to all claimants. The outcome of the trial in Wrexham benefit centre issuing the Atos personalised summary statement to disallowed claimants was discussed with Professor Harrington and a change to his original recommendation agreed: to issue the decision maker's reasons for the decision instead of the Atos statement. This better aligns with his other recommendations to support claimants through the claim process and to put decision makers at the heart of that process. Issuing the decision maker's reasons for the decision has been trialled in Oldham and on the basis of this trial is to be introduced nationally in the new year. Professor Harrington endorses this in his second review, noting it as a considerable improvement on his original recommendation. It will continue to be monitored as part of ongoing evaluation.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the outcome of the audio recording pilot in the Newcastle assessment centre.

Chris Grayling: We have received the evaluation report of the pilot. We are currently considering the evaluation evidence carefully to understand the costs and implications of audio recording as well as whether it will improve the assessment further for individuals.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last reviewed the quality checks to improve decision making standards in relation to the work capability assessment; when he plans to publish the outcomes of his most recent review of the quality checks to improve decision making standards in relation to work capability assessment; and when he next plans to review the quality checks to improve decision making standards in relation to the work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: Quality checks in relation to the work capability assessment were introduced in August. The check is an internal one and is used to give individual feedback to decision makers. There are no plans to publish this information.
	These new checks are being monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis. There was a national calibration exercise at the end of November to check standards across the country and a further event is planned for April.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the decision by the General Medical Council (GMC) of 4 October 2010 that an Atos Healthcare professional carrying out an assessment of a claimant’s suitability for disability living allowance is not subject to paragraph 2(a) of the good medical practice guidance; and what discussions he has had with the GMC on this issue.

Chris Grayling: The Department has not made any assessment of the decision, nor have there been any discussions with the GMC on this issue.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what auditing process is undertaken by his Department in relation to the number of successful appeals by those found fit for work by Atos Healthcare and his Department's decision makers following a work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: All allowed appeals are referred back to DWP decision makers so that any learning points can be identified. Local arrangements are in place to cascade relevant information as appropriate. DWP is also working with HMCTS to identify any trends in decisions which it could usefully address.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been found fit for work under the work capability assessment who had submitted an appeal against that decision and subsequently died prior to the appeal being heard.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions does not record the information requested. However, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) management information indicates that between October 2008 and October 2011, the most recent reported period, 31 appeals against decisions relating to work capability assessments have been withdrawn following the notification of death of the appellant. HMCTS cannot identify which of these appeals were against decisions where the appellant was assessed as fit for work.

Work Capability Assessment

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what follow-up procedures are in place to determine the reason for a claimant's failure to attend a work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: When a claimant fails to attend a work capability assessment, medical services will write to the claimant asking why they have not attended. The letter asks the claimant to reply to the benefit centre dealing with their claim within seven days.
	At the same time, medical services separately notifies the benefit centre that the claimant has failed to attend.
	Where the claimant is considered vulnerable because of their particular health condition a decision maker will attempt to make contact by telephone.
	If we are unable to contact a vulnerable person, the Department will attempt to visit the claimant to establish their reason for not attending.

Work Capability Assessment

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on implementing the (a) proposals to revise the work capability assessment for people with fluctuating conditions and (b) other recommendations of the year two review of the work capability assessment by Professor Harrington.

Chris Grayling: Professor Harrington submitted the recommendations of the group looking at fluctuating conditions to the Department in late November 2011. The Department is now considering these recommendations carefully before coming forward with a response.
	The Department welcomes the recommendations of Professor Harrington's second independent review and has set out its response to each recommendation in the Government response to the review published on 24 November 2011.
	To date we have receive no representations on these specific issues.

Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Atos Healthcare undertakes any assessment of the outcome of appeals on work capability assessment.

Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare assess feedback from the Appeals Tribunal Service, where its medical assessment is identified as substandard. The Appeals Tribunal Service handle appeals of the Department for Work and Pensions' decision about a claimant's entitlement to a benefit following a work capability assessment.

Work Experience: Young People

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how businesses will be recruited to take part in his Department's work experience scheme for 18 to 24 year-olds.

Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus is responsible for working with host businesses to source suitable work experience placements. This partnership working has already generated thousands of opportunities across the country.
	Jobcentre Plus supports employers to plan placements which are hands-on, provide opportunities for skills development, and expose participants to the routines of the working environment.
	Employers of all sizes in any sector can offer work experience so long as they can meet the terms and conditions set out in their agreement with Jobcentre Plus.
	New host business can find help and guidance on how they may be able to participate through both the Department for Work and Pensions and Business Link websites.

Work Programme

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people aged over 50 years who will find sustainable employment through the Work programme in (a) the east midlands region and (b) Leicester city in each of the next three years.

Chris Grayling: The Department has not set Work programme performance expectations specifically for people aged over 50 years.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of land in the UK that is not farmed under Pillar 2 agri-environment schemes.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA only holds data for England. The following table shows the proportion of land areas in England not covered by agri-environment schemes.
	
		
			  Area (thousand ha) Proportion of land NOT in agri-environment schemes (%) 
			 Environmental Stewardship (a) 5725 — 
			 Predecessor (Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas) schemes (a) 515 — 
			 Total land in agri-environment schemes 6240 — 
			 Total utilised agricultural area (UAA) 2011 (b) 8863 30 
			 Total agricultural area 2011 (b) 9314 33 
			 Total land area of England (c) 13043 52 
			 Sources: (a) Natural England as at end November 2011 (b) DEFRA June survey of Agriculture 2011. UAA includes cropped areas, uncropped arable land, common rough grazing, temporary and permanent grassland and land used for outdoor pigs. It excludes woodland and non-agricultural land on agricultural holdings e.g. tracks, ponds etc. Total agricultural area is defined as UAA plus woodland and non-agricultural land on agricultural holdings e.g. tracks, ponds etc. (c) Office for National Statistics. Total area of England is defined as the Area to Mean High Water.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether animal circuses have been inspected by DEFRA-appointed inspectors or vets in the last decade; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any inspection reports.

James Paice: A number of inspections of animals in travelling circuses have been conducted by DEFRA-appointed inspectors or vets in the past decade. However, no central record is kept of such inspections, nor of any reports which might have been written as a result of an inspection. The three inspections carried out for DEFRA in 2008 as part of a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of an inspection system for such circuses were conducted on a confidential basis, and as a consequence we will not release these reports.
	The proposed new circus animal licensing scheme will put inspections on a formal, statutory, footing. The new scheme will ensure that we have a record of all the licensing inspections carried out in circuses. We will also want to consider what information about, and from, the inspections should be made available publicly to ensure that the scheme is as transparent as possible.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration she has given to the use of alternatives to the culling of badgers for the purposes of controlling bovine TB.

James Paice: Cattle measures will continue to be the foundation of DEFRA’s control programme across England. However, we know that to tackle this disease we need to look at each and every transmission route, and that includes transmission from badgers to cattle. Good biosecurity practices are important but on-farm biosecurity controls are likely only to reduce, not eliminate, TB transmission risks from infectious badgers. Ultimately, we want to be able to vaccinate cattle and badgers, but there are practical difficulties with the injectable badger vaccine, which is currently the only available option. We are working hard to develop a cattle vaccine and an oral badger vaccine, but usable and approved vaccines are still years away and we cannot say with any certainty when they will be ready.
	In addition, veterinary and scientific advice is that culling in high TB incidence areas, carried out in line with the licence criteria, will reduce the number of infected badgers, and thus the weight of TB infection in badger populations in the treatment area, more quickly than vaccination. It will therefore have a greater and more immediate beneficial impact on the spread of TB to cattle and the incidence of infection in cattle.
	The policy statement published on 14 December provides further details. This is available at
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13691-bovinetb-policy-statement.pdf

Canal and River Trust

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency measures are being put in place by her Department to protect the new Canal and River Trust from the risk of unpredictable major infrastructure failures.

Richard Benyon: The Government are committed to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the waterways. Negotiations are currently under way between the Government and the Transition Trustees of the Canal and River Trust (CRT) to secure a long-term funding agreement for the waterways.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, the CRT will take over the statutory functions undertaken by British Waterways to maintain the waterways in England and Wales. It will inherit from British Waterways a risk management strategy to deal with any infrastructure failures, including setting aside a contingency fund on an annual basis, and like British Waterways will be able to divert funds from planned spending should any unplanned incidents occur.
	Once the funding agreement has been reached, the Government will expect the CRT, as is currently the case with British Waterways, to operate and maintain the canal network in a way which enables it to deal with infrastructure failures without additional support from the Government, as is currently the case with British Waterways. The CRT will have access to new income streams such as donations, charitable grants and legacies, an ability to borrow against its property assets, wider commercial opportunities and fundraising.

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons are for the time taken in bringing forward proposals to address dangerous dogs.

James Paice: My noble Friend, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, who leads on the subject of dangerous dogs in DEFRA, has been working alongside Lord Henley to see how the proposed antisocial measures currently being developed in the Home Office can be best applied to such behaviour relating to dogs. DEFRA has also been developing proposals on reducing dog attacks and promoting more responsible dog ownership. This is now at an advanced stage and, subject to ministerial clearance, we will be able to make an announcement early in the new year.

Food Labelling

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether food and catering services in (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible plan to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards.

Richard Benyon: Government buying standards (GBS) for food and catering, which were introduced for the first time in June this year, are designed to help people make healthier choices as well as promote more sustainable sourcing and operations in catering services. GBS are mandatory for central Government and are being promoted across the public sector. The best practice criteria include calorie and allergen labelling on menus.
	DEFRA’s catering contract with Eurest covers core DEFRA, the Rural Payments Agency, the Marine Management Organisation, the Food and Environment Research Agency, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Natural England, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. DEFRA’s caterer has agreed to include calorie labelling on menu boards and this is rolling out across the DEFRA estate.
	The Environment Agency has a separate catering contract to DEFRA. Menus and display boards at the Environment Agency currently have healthy eating, vegetarian and organic labelling. The Environment Agency will be re-tendering food and catering services in early 2012 and will include calorie labelling at this point.

Consultants

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on consultancy by her Department since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The core Department has spent £10,198,919 on consultancy in the period May 2010 to October 2011.

Design Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: For the 2010-11 financial year the information is:
	(a) £5,857 so that the DEFRA logo and brand could be used more easily on websites, including reducing the amount of ink needed for printing.
	(b) £0
	(c) and (e) £15,617 on design costs on campaigns, which includes advertising spend when it has formed part of a campaign. This includes public information material, for example, on plant and animal health.
	(d) £0

Departmental Pay

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any senior staff in (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if she will publish her policy on such payments.

Richard Benyon: All senior staff (SCS equivalent and above) employed directly by the Department, employed directly in our executive agencies (Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Rural Payments Agency, Food and Environment Research Agency and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) and employed directly in our main executive non-departmental public bodies (Environment Agency, Natural England, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Consumer Council for Water, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Marine Management Organisation and Joint Nature Conservation Committee) are covered by the Treasury's pay remit process, are paid through payroll.

Departmental Recycling

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she is taking steps to increase the proportion of waste recycled by her Department.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA and its agencies have reduced the quantity of waste they generate by 30% compared with 2004-05 levels, and in 2010-11, a 42% recycling rate was achieved. Our waste is managed according to the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle hierarchy; this arrangement ensures that all waste is disposed of in the most environmentally responsible manner.
	We have introduced food waste collections for composting from our London, Alnwick and York sites. Our "bin the bin" programme removed desk-side bins and encouraged staff to recycle their waste. This resulted in recycling rates increasing from an average of 35% to 82% at the sites involved.
	DEFRA's procurement team is working with suppliers for new contracts to minimise packaging waste and to consider sustainability more widely in their service provision.
	A significant quantity of the Department's waste (approximately 67%) is generated by the laboratory estate and is the result of scientific research into plant and animal disease. For environmental protection reasons, this waste cannot be recycled and currently, the Department has no option other than to send it to landfill or destroy it by incineration (much of which includes energy recovery). Over 75% of non-laboratory waste is already recycled. We are currently investigating opportunities for minimising laboratory waste sent to landfill.

Departmental Responsibilities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications to run services for which her Department is directly responsible she has received from employees in her Department since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: We have not received any applications from employees to run services for which the Department is directly responsible.

Departmental Travel Expenditure

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on travel by officials of her Department since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The total amount spent on travel by officials within the Department since May 2010 through to November 2011 is £2,992,374. This does not include Ministers and costs relating to their office.

Parliamentary Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date.

Richard Benyon: The volume of substantive answers to written questions, and the proportion they represent, can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of written PQs due between May 2010 and October 2011 (1) 
			  Number/percentage 
			 Number of written PQs 2,908 
			 Of which:  
			 Number answered 2,896 
			 Answered within 10 days 2,680 
			 Percentage 92 
			 Answered within 20 days 133 
			 Percentage 5 
			 Answered within 30 days 52 
			 Percentage 2 
			 Answered in more than30 days 31 
			 Percentage 1 
			 (1) Not including transfers.

Farmers: Compensation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have received reduced compensation as a result of falling behind in the timetable for testing for tuberculosis in their cattle since July 2011.

James Paice: As set out in the Bovine TB Eradication Programme for England published in July, we plan to reduce compensation payments where TB tests are significantly overdue. We are currently consulting on proposals to make this and other changes to the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2006, the secondary legislation covering the TB (and other diseases) cattle compensation system, from April 2012.

Forestry

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what area of (a) lowland heathland and (b) other priority open habitat has been recreated by (i) Forestry Commission England, (ii) other Government Departments and (iii) non-governmental organisations since the publication of the Forestry Commission document entitled “When to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England: Government Policy.”

Richard Benyon: This information is not yet available. Restoration of open habitat from forests and woodland in all ownerships is one of Forestry Commission England's impact indicators for 2011-15 and it is planning to publish this information annually commencing in May or June 2012.

Forestry

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the England Biodiversity Strategy's aspiration to create 200,000 hectares of new wildlife habitat by 2020 she estimates will be created under the provisions outlined in the Forestry Commission document, entitled “When to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England: Government Policy.”

Richard Benyon: We are currently developing the delivery plan for “Biodiversity 2020”, including working with partners to agree a more detailed plan for on-the-ground delivery action. This will provide more detail on how the biodiversity strategy's outcomes will be taken forward and is expected to be completed in spring 2012.

Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has received assurances from her ministerial colleagues that all Government Departments will be fully compliant with her Department's new mandatory buying standards by 1 January 2012.

Richard Benyon: This Government introduced the Government Buying Standards for food and catering in June this year and they came into effect in September. Now, for the first time, all central Government Departments have committed to procuring healthy, sustainable food and responsible catering operations. All new food and catering contracts, including DEFRA's own, will be fully compliant with these standards. Central Government are committed to looking at pre-existing contracts for cost-effective opportunities to meet the standards. Departments will be reporting their performance in line with their normal performance reporting schedules.

Local Nature Partnerships

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the participation of local authorities in Local Nature Partnerships.

Richard Benyon: In the Natural Environment White Paper, Government committed to supporting local nature partnerships (LNPs), where local areas wish to establish them, to work at a strategic scale to improve the range of benefits and services we get from a healthy natural environment. We want each LNP to develop and work in the most appropriate way for its local area. Local authorities have clear interests in the work of LNPs and would be appropriate members if they feel that it is in the interests of their communities to be so.

Marine Conservation Zones

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will be responsible for gathering evidence to support marine conservation zone designation.

Richard Benyon: The four marine conservation zone (MCZ) regional projects were responsible for collecting the evidence that underpinned their advice on recommended marine conservation zones (rMCZs). The Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs), Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee will also collect and use other relevant evidence as part of the process for preparing their advice to DEFRA.
	At the same time, DEFRA is commissioning an in-depth review of evidence available for the rMCZs to ensure that all relevant evidence has been gathered and used appropriately. This review will report jointly to DEFRA and the SNCBs and is expected to inform the formal SNCB advice. DEFRA will also be commissioning some seabed and habitat monitoring.

Natural Gas: Exploration

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2011, Official Report, columns 690-1W, on natural gas: exploration, what hazard data and classifications are relevant to each of the substances used for hydraulic fracturing in the UK; and whether the use of each of the substances in hydraulic fracturing has been correctly notified in accordance with the registration requirements set out in EU Regulation 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Registration of Chemicals.

Richard Benyon: The following chemicals have been used for hydraulic fracturing in the United Kingdom:
	
		
			 Chemical Classification (with R phrases) 
			 FR-40 (mixture) None 
			 Hydrochloric acid Acute toxicity; Xn: R20/21/22 (harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed) 
			  Corrosive(1); C: R34 (causes burns) 
			 (1) Diluted hydrochloric acid is irritating to eyes, the respiratory system, and the skin. 
		
	
	At present, the requirement to register under REACH applies to substances which are manufactured in the EU or imported in quantities above 1,000 tonnes per year per manufacturer or importer. Lower tonnage thresholds apply for substances carrying certain hazard classifications.
	The chemical substances used in hydraulic fracturing do not carry the relevant hazard classifications and are not used in sufficient volumes to trigger registration obligations. Therefore their use in hydraulic fracturing will not have triggered any registration obligations.
	Polyacrylamide, the main ingredient of FR-40, is a polymer and as such is exempt from registration under REACH.
	Looking at other similar uses, hydrochloric acid has been registered for use in mining.

Sheep: Disease Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which body records individual sheep movements (a) in North Yorkshire and (b) across England in respect of the monitoring and notification of notifiable disease.

James Paice: There is no requirement for movements of individual sheep to be recorded centrally. Individual movement records are maintained at farm level and, depending on when moved sheep were born, movement documents record either the individual sheep or the batch of sheep moved. Local authorities have responsibility for recording batch movement information of all sheep movements on DEFRA's animal movement licensing system. It is the responsibility of livestock keepers to monitor the health of their stock and it remains a legal requirement for anyone who suspects a notifiable disease may be present to report this to their local Animal Health Office. This is a key component of disease surveillance in England.

Solar Power

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) farmers and (b) landowners who have installed solar panels in their fields; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of such a practice on income to domestic households from the feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaics.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply.
	DECC does not hold data on the number of farmers and landowners who have installed solar panels in their fields. However, at the end of November 2011, there were 301 solar photovoltaic installations on feed-in tariffs for stand-alone systems (schemes that are not attached to a building).
	The existence of installations in fields does not directly affect the potential income from FITs for domestic households. However, in setting future tariffs the Government need to take account of the total impact of the scheme on consumers' bills.
	The impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV), available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
	This sets out the impact of our proposals on FITs support, generation and jobs.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carcases of each species have been examined in each regional veterinary laboratory for endemic disease purposes in each year since 2005.

James Paice: A document showing details of carcases examined for surveillance will be placed in the Library of the House. The information included is from 2005 to the present.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what safeguards will be in place to prevent the spread of animal disease (a) over the distances which the samples will have to travel for testing purposes and (b) from the decoupling of the test from the post mortem examination following the restructuring of the Veterinary Laboratory Agency.

James Paice: The safeguards that are and will be in place to prevent the spread of animal disease are:
	(a) Biological samples are currently sent around the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency laboratory network as a routine practice. Samples are sent via specialist couriers in compliance with the required packaging standards (The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and Carriage Regulations 2011), which are designed to prevent release of pathogens. The majority of samples are already sent to sites other than the post mortem site for processing.
	(b) Decoupled tests—Some tests will remain at the site at which post-mortem examinations are being conducted. Otherwise, tests will be undertaken at the appropriate laboratory site depending on the tests required. These samples will be dispatched as above in (a).

Veterinary Laboratories Agency: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to which regional veterinary laboratory agency the samples from Thirsk and the surrounding areas will be taken for examination and testing following the restructuring of the regional veterinary laboratory service covering North Yorkshire.

James Paice: The veterinary laboratory service is a national service, rather than a regional one, with specialist laboratories undertaking tests from all around England and Wales, e.g. polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at Penrith and biochemistry tests at Shrewsbury. Until recently, a proportion of parasitology and bacteriology tests were undertaken locally, but now the majority of these tests will also be directed into specialist national laboratory centres.
	A small number of tests will remain at the site at which post mortem examinations are being conducted. The remainder of tests required as a result of post mortems taking place on animals from Yorkshire will be undertaken at the appropriate specialist laboratory site depending on the tests required. Laboratories in Bury St Edmunds, Lasswade, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Penrith, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Sutton Bonington and Weybridge will carry out tests from around England and Wales.

Water Companies

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will direct water companies to factor into their long-term investment plans the upper and lower limits of population projections for 2050 made by the Office for National Statistics.

Richard Benyon: It is a statutory requirement for water companies to prepare and maintain water resources management plans, which include projections of current and future demands for water and how the companies aim to meet this demand over 25 years.
	Water resources management plans take into account the most up-to-date information available on housing numbers and population forecasts. The plans present and consider both trend-based and policy-based population and household projections. They also ascertain differences and assess uncertainty in forecasts. The plans include any uncertainty associated with the forecasts in their assessment of target headroom (the buffer between supply and demand designed to cater for specified uncertainties) and an explanation of this allowance.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Libraries: Pay

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if he will review the salary payable to the chief executive officer of the British Library to reflect her acceptance of a paid non-executive role at Ofcom;
	(2)  if he will investigate the acceptance by the chief executive officer of the British Library of a paid non-executive post at Ofcom; whether acceptance of this post contravenes the provision of section 6 of the British Library’s staff handbook; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The appointment of non-executive members to the Ofcom board are made under a public appointment process which is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and takes into account fully an applicant’s existing commitments before deeming their suitability to take on additional roles. The British Library’s staff handbook and salary reviews are matters for the British Library, at arm’s length from Government.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether companies bidding for contracts to supply goods or services to the organisers of the London 2012 Olympics are required to comply with each of the seven fundamental principles of Olympism; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Contracting for services and supply of goods to the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is a matter for LOCOG who adhere to their published Sustainable Sourcing Code. In its procurement process, LOCOG assesses tenders for value for money, which it defines on the basis of five broad areas—Quality/Delivery/Disposal; Commercial; Sustainability; Diversity and Inclusion; and Legal/Financial.
	Bidders for Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) tenders are required to comply with ODA priority themes such as Equality and Inclusion, Sustainability and Health and Safety. These themes are built into our contracts and contractors are required to work towards our aims and aspirations in these areas as well as providing reporting data. Our suppliers are also required to follow similar procurement processes to our own, particularly in embodying transparency and equal treatment of all bidders.
	The learning legacy website contains information on all of the ODA’s priority themes at:
	http://learninglegacy.london2012.com/

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has made an assessment of the compliance of Dow Chemicals’ contract to supply the wrap on the London 2012 Olympics stadium with each of the seven fundamental principles of Olympism; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: No such assessment has been made. Contracting for services and supply of goods to the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is a matter for LOCOG who adhere to their published Sustainable Sourcing Code. LOCOG entered into a competitive tendering process for the stadium wrap, and out of the companies that responded, Dow Chemical was able to produce the most sustainable wrap. This process has been independently verified by the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012. The International Olympic Committee appointed Dow Chemical as a global partner in 2010 and expects all their partners to meet their values.

Sports: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the provision of community sport in Coventry.

Hugh Robertson: Through Whole Sport Plans, Sport England is investing £450 million through 46 national governing bodies over the next four years. The governing bodies work closely with their network of community sports clubs to invest funding at a local level. Coventry South constituency has received a total of £7,532,714 lottery funding and £1,791,444 of Exchequer funding from Sport England since 1995.
	In addition, the mass participation Olympic Legacy—Places People Play, will provide funding opportunities for community sports with £10 million for playing fields and £50 million for community sports facilities.

Sports: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to protect playing fields in Coventry.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England is a statutory consultee on all planning applications affecting playing fields. Recent figures published by Sport England show that 94.5% of concluded planning applications affecting playing fields in 2009-10 resulted in improved or safeguarded sports provision. The figures can be found at:
	http://www.sportengland.org/about_us/our_news/playing_field_safeguards.aspx
	In addition, Sport England is investing £10 million into protecting and improving playing fields, as part of the London 2012 mass participation sporting legacy “Places People Play”. Sport England has also provided advice to Coventry city council in the preparation of a city-wide playing pitch strategy which will identify the current and future need for playing pitches in the city.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the desirability of changing the provision of equivalent value in the National Planning Policy Framework to instead calculate affordable housing provision as a proportion of both off-site and on-site housing.

Greg Clark: The draft National Planning Policy Framework asks local planning authorities, where they have identified that affordable housing is required, to set policies for meeting this need on site, unless off-site provision or a financial contribution of broadly equivalent value can be robustly justified. This reflects current policy to encourage on-site provision wherever practical. The consultation on the draft framework has closed and we are now considering all the responses.

Bail Accommodation and Support Service

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities require planning consent for premises to be used for bail accommodation.

Bob Neill: The Welsh Assembly Government are responsible for planning matters in Wales.
	In England, planning permission will be required if a new building is being built. Where a change of use of an existing building occurs planning permission may be required. This will depend on the particular circumstances of each case, including what the existing use is and the scale of any external physical works.
	Under the Use Classes Order in England, it is possible that bail accommodation could fall within the C2: Residential Institutions, C2A: Secure Residential Institutions, C3: Dwelling houses or be considered sui generis i.e. in a class of its own. It is for local planning authorities to determine which use class a particular use falls into and whether there has been a material change of use. They do so depending on the individual circumstances of each case.

Community Relations

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken on community cohesion and integration; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: We are working closely with a number of Departments on issues of community cohesion and integration. The Government plan to publish a document setting out their approach to integration in due course. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), will make a statement to Parliament at this time.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to tackle hate crime since May 2010; what further steps he plans to take in each of the next two years; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(2)  what reports he has received of the level of hate crime in (a) Southend West constituency, (b) Essex and (c) nationally since January 2011; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Lynne Featherstone: I have been asked to reply.
	Tackling hate crime is an issue the Government take very seriously, and we are committed to doing more to support and protect victims. We are meeting the coalition commitment to improve the recording of such crimes, and working with the police and other partners to encourage more victims to come forward. We are also working with the Government's Independent Advisory Group to develop a new action plan on tackling all forms of hate crime, which will set out the Government's priorities over the coming years.
	Data on the level of reports of hate crime since January 2011 are currently not available. From 1 April this year, police forces started formally collecting data on hate crimes to meet the coalition commitment. These data will be published next year as official statistics, giving us a clear picture of local patterns and trends in hate crime and helping the police to target their resources more effectively.
	As an interim measure, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) agreed to publish its own data. The latest figures published cover the calendar year 2010, and are broken down by police force area. The information is available on ACPO's True Vision website at:
	http://www.report-it.org.uk/hate_crime_data1

Departmental Civil Proceedings

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations that have received funding from his Department have brought legal proceedings against his Department in the last five years; which such organisations were not successful in their actions; and whether his Department (a) applied and (b) was paid for costs in respect of such cases.

Bob Neill: All litigation cases against the Department are managed by the Treasury Solicitors Department under a service level agreement.
	My Department does not hold a list of all legal proceedings in the last five years. The Department would have to pay the Treasury Solicitors Department to obtain this information.
	Obtaining these data, matching the two sets of information, creating a qualitative analysis of success or failure of the cases, and establishing the costs associated with the proceedings, would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold by a wide margin.

Electronic Equipment

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Staffordshire of 15 November 2011, how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) BlackBerry devices were issued to staff in the latest period for which figures are available; what the cost was of such devices; and what the cost was of the 735 such devices issued to staff on 1 May 2010.

Bob Neill: Currently 340 (a) mobile telephones and 552 (b) BlackBerry devices are on issue to staff within the Department. The actual cost of devices issued in a particular period could be disaggregated from the overall cost (cost of device, line rental and call charges) of mobile devices only at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to confirm that since 1 May 2010 until 11 November the Department has spent a total of £265,105 with our mobile phone and BlackBerry suppliers.
	The number of mobile devices on issue within the Department has notionally increased because residual Government office and regional development agency staff have transferred into central DCLG and have also transferred their BlackBerry devices and mobile phones into the Department.
	In a lean business environment the Department recognises the advantages in remote working that BlackBerry devices bring.
	To drive down overall costs the Department has signed up to a centrally negotiated telephony agreement. The Department will now have greater certainty of telephony costs over the course of the central framework agreement as well greater flexibility with regard to contract length for each individual connection. The Department also has the opportunity to recoup a portion of total line rental spend from the supplier at the end of each financial year. The Department has used the collective bargaining power of the DCLG group to qualify for savings with suppliers.

Housing

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) housing starts and (b) housing completions for (i) social rent, (ii) intermediate rent, (iii) low-cost home ownership, (iv) total affordable housing, (v) open market and (vi) total housing starts took place in each local authority area between (A) April and September and (B) October and March in each year since 1997.

Grant Shapps: holding answer 25 November 2011
	Affordable Housing Supply statistics can be found on my Department's website at the following link. These statistics are only collected annually:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/
	House building statistics can be found on the Department's website at the following link. These statistics are collected on a quarterly basis:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding
	The Homes and Communities Agency's National Housing Statistics (which exclude some affordable housing that is delivered without Homes and Communities Agency grant funding) can be found on the following link. These statistics are available on a six-monthly basis dating back to 2009-10:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/statistics
	The New Homes Bonus allocations also provide a valuable source of information on new housing and empty housing being brought back into use in each local authority area.

Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were (a) started and (b) completed in (i) England, (ii) each region and (iii) each local authority area for (A) social rent, (B) intermediate rent and (C) affordable home ownership in (1) each of the last five years and (2) April to September 2011.

Grant Shapps: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) today (PQ 83269).

Housing: Fire Extinguishers

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 143W, on housing: fire extinguishers 
	(1)  which US data were relied on extensively in the final regulatory impact assessment published on 13 December 2006;
	(2)  with reference to the “Building Research Establishment Report 204505: Effectiveness of sprinkles in residential premises—an evaluation of concealed and recessed pattern sprinkler products”, which data from other countries were viewed as not directly applicable or appropriate for the UK situation.

Andrew Stunell: The details of the analysis carried out by the Building Research Establishment are set out fully in their reports. These are, as set out in my previous answers, readily available on the internet. The benefits associated with the installation of sprinklers were calculated by estimating of the number of deaths and injuries that might be avoided and of the associated reduction in property loss.
	Statistics from the United States were used to derive the estimated reduction in property loss. While the literature review included data from the United States of America, New Zealand and Canada, the researchers decided that they could not be used to robustly derive the estimated reductions in death and injury. Instead, a correlation between fire size and casualties was used.

Owner Occupation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of (a) current and (b) future rates of owner occupation among different social groups.

Andrew Stunell: The English Housing survey has published information on owner-occupation among different social groups in England for 2009-10. Information on a variety of social groups can be found in table 1.2 at the following web address:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1937410.xls
	We do not forecast rates of owner occupation.

Owner Occupation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of rates of owner occupation (a) nationally, (b) in each constituent part of the UK and (c) in each region;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of likely future trends in owner occupation (a) nationally and (b) in each constituent part of the UK.

Andrew Stunell: Owner occupation is given as part of the tenure split in the published live tables on dwelling stock which can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/
	Live table 101 shows UK figures, with England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island in tables 104, 105, 106 and 107 respectively. Live table 109 shows regional data for England.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government does not forecast trends in owner occupation.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision he plans to make in the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure that added weight is given to applications for schemes which will house excluded and vulnerable groups.

Greg Clark: The draft National Planning Policy Framework asks local planning authorities to plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, market trends and the needs of different groups in the community. The consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework has closed and we are now considering all the responses.

Public Houses: Co-operatives

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many co-operative pubs the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in his Department with responsibility for community pubs has visited in his official capacity since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: holding answer 15 December 2011
	Since taking on the role of Minister for Community Pubs, I have visited a number of community pubs in an official capacity. I have accepted invitations to visit two co-operative pubs next year: the George and Dragon at Hudswell, Yorkshire and the Fox and Hounds at Ennerdale, Cumbria.
	The Government are supportive of community pubs, including co-operatives, as valuable social hubs. Through the Right to Bid provisions in the Localism Act 2011, we are making it easier for communities to take over and retain these, and other, valuable local assets. The Government also support the work of other organisations, such as the Plunkett Foundation and Pub is the Hub, involved in helping communities to, where appropriate, take over and run their local pubs.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer question 79358, on the supporting people scheme, tabled on 3 November 2011 for answer on 7 November 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: Parliamentary question 79358 was answered on 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 1017W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer question 83581, on homes, tabled on 23 November 2011 for answer on 25 November 2011.

Grant Shapps: Question 83581 was answered on 20 December.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) each of the three centres in China and (b) the centre in Vietnam which provide non-human primates to UK designated user establishments (i) are due next to be reviewed and (ii) were last reviewed.

Lynne Featherstone: Two centres in China are considered acceptable at present. One is currently under review; one was reviewed in September 2011 and is scheduled for review again in August 2013. The centre in Vietnam is also considered acceptable, it was last reviewed in October 2011 and the next planned review is in August 2013.
	A further centre in China is no longer considered acceptable. No consignments from this source have ever been approved.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the findings were of the most recent reviews of the two Mauritian centres that have supplied animals to the UK for scientific procedures in the last two years.

Lynne Featherstone: Both Mauritian centres that have supplied animals to the United Kingdom for scientific procedures in the last two years were classified as acceptable. There were no issues identified that required active monitoring by the inspectorate prior to the next review.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how her Department plans to implement EU legislation on reducing the number of animals used in scientific research and replacing them with non-animal methods wherever possible.

Lynne Featherstone: The European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes provides an opportunity to update current United Kingdom legislation. It will help us promote the development of alternatives through effective legislation, through continuing support to the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and in Europe through support for the Union Reference Laboratory.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much and what proportion of research funding was allocated to the development of alternatives to the use of non-human primates (NHP); and how much and what proportion of funding was allocated to research using NHPs in the latest period for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will impose a moratorium on the development and testing of vaccines against malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB on non-human primates;
	(2)  if she will impose a moratorium on the use of non-human primates (NHP) for the development of treatments of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's due to differences in the brain structures between humans and NHPs.

Lynne Featherstone: I have no plans to do so.
	Research using non-human primates is a small but currently vital part of work to protect and improve human lives. We cannot end such use without halting important areas of medical and scientific research.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were granted for research on non-human primates (NHP) that included water deprivation as a permissible motivational tool in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010; to which species of NHP such licences related; and for what reasons such licences were granted.

Lynne Featherstone: Water restriction as a motivational tool was permitted on licences granted in 2009 and 2010 as in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of licences Species Purpose 
			 2009 3 Macaques Physiological studies and advancement of biological science. 
			    Control of disease, ill health and abnormality. 
			    Advancement of biological or behavioural science. 
			     
			 2010 1 Marmosets/Macaques Control of disease, ill health and abnormality . 
			    Physiological studies and advancement of biological science.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is a formal requirement for all institutions carrying out regulated procedures using non-human primates (NHP) to have in place formal confirmation from the supply centre that the NHP was not weaned at less than six months of age; and what the source is of any such requirement.

Lynne Featherstone: UK breeding and supplying establishments are expected to comply with the provisions of the “Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals in Designated Breeding and Supplying Establishments”. This code of practice states that:
	(a) for marmosets :
	“Young animals for issue must not be separated from the breeding group until a minimum of six months old, preferable eight months, unless there are good veterinary or husbandry reasons for weaning earlier (e.g. hand-reared triplets). Animals to be used as future breeding stock should not be weaned until a minimum of thirteen months of age.”
	(b) for macaques:
	“Young animals must not be weaned at less than six months of age and 1kg in body weight, unless on veterinary advice e.g. mother is unable to rear baby. It is preferable not to wean before 12 months of age.”
	The use of non-human primates from an overseas source in regulated procedures is authorised only when the centre in question has demonstrated that animals bred and supplied to licensees in the United Kingdom will have been weaned at more than eight months of age except where there is specific justification such as rare cases where infants have been either abandoned or orphaned.
	Those seeking to acquire non-human primates from a non-designated establishment are required through a condition on their project licence or certificate to forward to the Home Office information pertaining to the life history of the animals which currently includes details of the youngest weaning age in the batch.

Animal Experiments

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of non-human primates authorised to be used in regulated procedures in the last 12 months were weaned at under six months of age because they were abandoned or orphaned.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Asylum

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose cases (a) are pending and (b) failed are accommodated in (i) Newport East and (ii) other dispersal areas; and what proportion of such asylum seekers are single men.

Damian Green: holding answer 30 November 2011
	The current number of work in progress asylum cases in the categories specified is as follows:
	
		
			  (a) Pending Proportion of single males (1)  (percentage) (b) Failed Proportion of single males (1)  (percentage) 
			 (i) Newport East(2,3,4) 86 43 24 21 
			 (ii) Other dispersal areas(2,3,4) 11,354 21 9,692 18 
			 (1) Gender unknown cases not counted as male. (2) All figures quoted are management information which has been subject to internal quality checks. (3) Data relate to S4/S95 accommodated/dispersed cases only. (4) Postcodes are based on the applicants last known address.

Asylum: Reading West

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legacy cases concern asylum seekers resident in Reading West constituency; and how many of these are not (a) awaiting prosecution, (b) awaiting removal and (c) subject to ongoing litigation.

Damian Green: A total of 35 legacy asylum seekers are resident in Reading West. Of these 10 do not meet the criteria under (a), (b) or (c) above. The data are sourced from a local management team and should be treated as provisional.

Babar Ahmad

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the case of Babar Ahmad; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament on behalf of constituents who have written to them about the case of Babar Ahmad. Mr Ahmad's extradition is stayed while his case is considered by the European Court of Human Rights.

Crime Prevention: Expenditure

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was provided to (a) each local authority and (b) each individual non-statutory sector representative as part of the Communities Against Guns, Gangs and Knives Fund in 2010-11.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 15 November 2011
	The Communities Against Guns, Gangs, and Knives Fund is not awarded to local authorities. It is a fund that provides £4 million over two years, in grants of up to £10,000 a year, to voluntary and community sector organisations.
	A list of these organisations, along with information on which local authority areas they will be working in and their allocated funding for 2010-11, can be found on the grant administrator's website:
	http://www.grantsadmin.co.uk/documents/CAGGKY11to12ProjectList.pdf

Departmental Advertising Campaigns

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public information advertising campaigns her Department ran in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2011-12; and what the cost was of each campaign.

Damian Green: The following table outlines Home Office and its agencies spend on public information advertising campaigns in 2008-09 and 2009-10, broken down by campaign area. All were carried out via the Central Office of Information. Final spend figures for 2011-12 cannot be provided at this point as the financial year is not yet complete.
	
		
			  Campaign Cost (£) 
			 2008-09 Knife crime 917,764 
			  Acquisitive Crime Reduction—Burglary 918,170 
			  Alcohol Harm Reduction 2,790,203 
			  Community Safety 2,246,390 
			  Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 717,397 
			  Human Trafficking 8,928 
			  Immigration—Points Based System 2,453,007 
			  IPS Communications(1) 21,500 
			    
			 2009-10 Violence against women and girls 1,828,532 
			  Human Trafficking 28,974 
			  Alcohol Harm Reduction 1,716,361 
			  Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 442,130 
			  Youth crime 129,526 
			  Knife crime 854,554 
			  Acquisitive Crime Reduction 2,740,798 
			  Community Safety 3,701,897 
			  Prostitution 22,006 
			  Vetting and barring 167,137 
			    
			 2011-12 Drugs (FRANK campaign) (2)— 
			  Violence against women and girls (2)— 
			 (1) IPS Communications costs (and its predecessor the UK Passport Authority) were related to informing the public of passport fee increases and encouraging the public to get the applications in early to help distribute passport demand more evenly throughout the year. (2) Final figures not yet available.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The requested information cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Home Office does not directly contract for food supplies but procures catering services through wider facilities management or operating service contracts. Therefore it will not be possible to separate cost of food from catering services without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were working in her Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011.

Damian Green: Information on the number of employees working in the Home Office is published on a regular basis by the Office for National Statistics, as "paid civil servants".
	This management information is produced and collated at the end of each month and, as such, figures are not yet available for 8 December 2011. The latest period for which information is available is as at 30 November 2011.
	I can confirm the following:
	(a) The Home Department employed 31,513 paid civil servants on 11( )May 2010.
	(b) The Home Department employed 26,642 paid civil servants on 30( )November 2011.

Parliamentary Written Questions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary questions for written answer on a named day by her Department were answered (a) on time, (b) five days late, (c) 10 days late, (d) 20 days late and (e) over 30 days late in each month since May 2010.

Damian Green: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Month Named day PQs answered on time 5 to 9 days late 10 to 19 days late 20 to 30 days late Over 30 days late 
			 June 2010 44 17 5 2 1 
			 July 2010 34 18 5 0 0 
			 September 2010 19 12 6 2 2 
			 October 2010 28 15 4 2 1 
			 November 2010 33 18 13 5 2 
			 December 2010 34 6 7 3 2 
			 January 2011 27 5 3 1 0 
			 February 2011 32 7 4 0 0 
			 March 2011 41 16 7 0 2 
			 April 2011 27 0 1 0 0 
			 May 2011 21 7 2 0 1 
			 June 2011 32 8 8 0 3 
			 July 2011 14 11 6 2 13 
			 September 2011 35 1 10 4 2 
			 October 2011 26 4 1 0 0 
			 November 2011 54 6 4 0 0 
		
	
	The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.

DNA

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples of people from each ethnic group were retained by the police in respect of people arrested but not subsequently convicted of any crime in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: This information is not held centrally.

Federation of Student Islamic Societies

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what correspondence her Department has had with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies on civil service recruitment events since 1 June 2011.

James Brokenshire: I am not aware of any correspondence being sent to the Federation of Student Islamic Societies on civil service recruitment events since 1 June 2011.

Firearms: Licensing

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to allow police forces to charge fees for firearms licences that reflect the cost of administering them.

Nick Herbert: The Government are currently considering information submitted by the police on the cost of issuing firearms certificates.

Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings she has had with the Scottish Government to discuss a UK-wide approach to tackling (a) human trafficking and (b) child trafficking since May 2010.

Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has not had meetings with the Scottish Government to discuss a UK-wide approach to tackling human trafficking, including child trafficking.
	I chair the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, of which the Scottish Government are a standing member.

Illegal Immigrants

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of illegal immigrants who may have entered the UK via the Eurostar route from Brussels via Lille during the six months ending November 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency closely monitors all trains from Lille at St Pancras, Ebbsfleet and Ashford and carries out more detailed checks where it is thought that passengers are attempting to evade controls. A significant number of passengers are also removed from the train at Lille in co-operation with Eurostar and the French authorities. As a result of these actions, around 300 passengers have been stopped at Lille and St Pancras between January to November 2011.
	These data are based on management information and as such have not been quality assured. They are provisional and subject to change.

Immigration Controls

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people who entered the UK at ports operating the pilot scheme of reduced checks at border control points during the pilot scheme.

Damian Green: There were 20.2 million passenger arrivals to the United Kingdom during the first quarter (January to March) of 2011 of which 2.4 million were non-EEA nationals, 11.2 million were British citizens and 6.5 million were from other EEA countries and Switzerland. These figures are numbers of journeys and include passengers in transit who do not pass through immigration controls.
	Further information relating to the second quarter (April to June) of 2011 was published on 24 November 2011 in the Home Office Science publication, “Immigration Statistics July to September 2011” and the third quarter will be published on 23 February 2012. These data will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/

Immigration Controls: Airports

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether passport controls were relaxed at (a) Teesport and (b) Teesside airport during the summer of 2011.

Damian Green: Risk-based controls under the level 2 pilot were not used at (a) Teesport and (b) Durham Tees Valley (Teesside) airport.

Immigration: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she has held discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for Scotland, (b) Ministers in the Scottish Government and (c) representatives of Scottish police forces on the border access checks pilot introduced in summer 2011; and whether in each case those communications were (i) written and (ii) oral.

Damian Green: holding answer 14 November 2011
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has not had any discussions or communicated written or orally with (a) the Secretary of State for Scotland, (b) Ministers in the Scottish Government and (c) representatives of Scottish police forces regarding the border access checks pilot introduced in summer 2011.

National Policing Improvement Agency: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding the National Policing Improvement Agency will receive in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The NPIA's resource and capital funding in 2010-11 and 2011-12 is:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Resource DEL (1) Capital DEL 
			 2010-11 367.9 57.6 
			 2011-12 355.8 44.2 
			 (1) DEL—Departmental Expenditure Limit

National Policing Improvement Agency: Manpower

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the National Policing Improvement Agency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The National Policing Improvement Agency had 1,788 full-time equivalent staff as at 31 March 2011 and 1,583 full-time equivalent staff as at 30 November 2011.

Passports: Gender

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to review how gender is represented in passports; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: “Advancing Transgender Equality—A Plan for Action” published by Home Office on 8 December 2011 set out our commitment to review how gender identification is represented in passport application forms and passports. We are engaging with international partners on the security and personal safety implications of gender displayed in the passport. This is part of the normal process of working with our partners to ensure that the British passport holder is able to travel freely, securely and without hindrance. Any changes to the UK passport would need to satisfy our rigorous security requirements. We will contact key stakeholders in the UK in the light of the outcome of our discussions with other countries and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Police: Information

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on research commissioned by police forces in England and Wales on the effectiveness of police information notices.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office does not hold any information on research commissioned by police forces in England and Wales on the effectiveness of police information notices.
	As part of our cross-departmental strategy on ending all types of violence against women and girls (Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls Action plan, published on 8 March 2011), which includes measures to tackle stalking, the Home Office launched a consultation in November 2011 which seeks views on how we can protect victims of stalking more effectively, including the use of police information notices.

Police: Recruitment

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for future police recruitment.

Nick Herbert: Police forces in England and Wales are responsible for managing their recruitment and selection processes according to local needs and circumstances, in line with national guidance.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding the Serious Organised Crime Agency will receive in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: The Serious Organised Crime Agency received £462,839 million from the Home Office in 2010-11, and is expected to receive £447,894 million in 2011-12.

SMU 100 Laser Device

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when she expects trials of the SMU 100 laser device by UK police forces to be held; and when those trials will be complete;
	(2)  on what basis she plans to select the police forces that will trial the SMU 100 laser device; and how the results of those trials will be reported to Parliament;
	(3)  whether she plans to report the findings of trials on the use of the SMU 100 laser device to the Home Affairs Committee.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The Home Office has no plans to trial the SMU 100 laser device for use by the police service.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the expenditure incurred by her Department on salaries for full-time investigation staff allocated to the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy for staff (a) engaged in detection, (b) engaged in investigations, (c) working on intelligence matters and (d) in total in 2009-10.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency deployed an estimated 1,504 full-time equivalent staff to the tobacco strategy in 2009-10, assigned to detection and intelligence duties. Further and more detailed information is not available as the agency’s expenditure records are not broken down by specific functions and activities.
	Investigation and the provision of legal advice in relation to tobacco smuggling remained the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in the UK Border Agency were assigned to implementing the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy in 2009-10; and how many such staff were engaged in (a) detection, (b) intelligence gathering and analysis, (c) investigations and (d) the provision of legal advice.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency deployed an estimated 1,504 full-time equivalent staff to the tobacco strategy in 2009-10, assigned to detection and intelligence duties. Further and more detailed information on expenditure is not available. Investigation and the provision of legal advice in relation to tobacco smuggling remained the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs.

Stalking: Harassment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to encourage victims of stalking and harassment to respond to her Department's consultation on stalking;
	(2)  what meetings are planned with victims of stalking and harassment as part of her Department's consultation on stalking;
	(3)  whether her Department plans to consult with perpetrators of stalking as part of its consultation on stalking.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office launched a consultation on 14 November 2011 to seek views on how to protect victims of stalking more effectively. This is a public consultation, as well as specifically seeking the views of key partners and directly affected parties, and as such responses from victims and perpetrators of stalking will be welcomed. The consultation closes on 5 February.
	The Home Office ran a series of regional road shows on stalking in November and December in Manchester, Durham, London and Avon and Somerset, to explore how partners can work together to better understand and tackle this important issue. Attendees included victims groups, individual victims and their relatives, as well as the police and Crown Prosecution Service. The events included interactive workshops on existing legislation and guidance, and discussions with experts on the effectiveness of current methods to tackle stalking and harassment. The road shows also gathered views to feed into the stalking consultation.

JUSTICE

Brain: Injuries

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research his Department has undertaken on the effects on offending of acquired brain injury in the last 18 months.

Crispin Blunt: No research has been undertaken by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) on the effects on offending of acquired brain injury in the last 18 months.

Chief Coroner

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice by what date he expects to appoint the chief coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Lord Chief Justice is responsible for appointing the chief coroner under schedule 8 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. We are continuing to discuss the matter, including timescales, with the Lord Chief Justice.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with (a) his ministerial colleagues and (b) the senior judiciary on the appointment of a chief coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), and I have discussed the appointment of a chief coroner with the Lord Chief Justice in recent weeks. We have not, however, had any discussions with ministerial colleagues on this issue.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  when he expects (a) to announce the appointment of a chief coroner and (b) the chief coroner to take up his or her post;
	(2)  when he plans to announce who will be appointed as a chief coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Lord Chief Justice is responsible for appointing the chief coroner under schedule 8 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. We are continuing to discuss this matter, including timescales, with the Lord Chief Justice.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to meet bereavement organisations to discuss the appointment of a chief coroner; and when such meetings will take place.

Jonathan Djanogly: Ministry of Justice officials plan to meet bereavement organisations in the new year to discuss implementation of the coroner reforms in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. However, under schedule 8 to the Act, the appointment of the chief coroner is a matter for the Lord Chief Justice, following consultation with the Lord Chancellor.

Chief Coroner

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he proposes that the chief coroner will be a High Court judge.

Jonathan Djanogly: Under Schedule 8 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 the chief coroner must be either a High Court judge or a Circuit judge. Appointment of the chief coroner is, however, a matter for the Lord Chief Justice, following consultation with the Lord Chancellor.

Civil Justice Council

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice under what categories of expenditure he expects the Civil Justice Council to make savings in 2011-12 relative to its budget in 2010-11.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Civil Justice Council has reduced its staff costs by moving to a joint secretariat with the Family Justice Council. Overall, this has resulted in two fewer posts, relative to 2010-11. The Civil Justice Council has reduced its non-staff running costs by 23% in 2011-12 when compared with 2010-11.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many awards the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has made showing the number of awards in bands of £25,000.

Jonathan Djanogly: Figures covering cases resolved in the period 14 June 2010 to 14 December 2011 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Awards paid 
			 Band Number 
			 £0 to £25,000 48,338 
			 £25,001 to £50,000 577 
			 £50,001 to £75,000 197 
			 £75,001 to £100,000 132 
			 £100,001 to £125,000 84 
			 £125,001 to £150,000 59 
			 £150,001 to £175,000 36 
			 £175,001 to £200,000 22 
			 £200,001 to £225,000 24 
			 £225,001 to £250,000 18 
			 £250,001 to £275,000 15 
			 £275,001 to £300,000 19 
			 £300,001 to £325,000 9 
			 £325,001 to £350,000 15 
			 £350,001 to £375,000 14 
			 £375,001 to £400,000 6 
		
	
	
		
			 £400,001 to £425,000 8 
			 £425,001 to £450,000 5 
			 £450,001 to £475,000 4 
			 £475,001 to £500,000 60

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: The amount spent by the Department on food purchased through its food and catering services during 2010-11 is given in the following table. From 2010, the Department has restricted catering for internal and external meetings, including in our arm's-length bodies.
	The following restrictions apply to all departmental staff:
	No lunches, tea or coffees can be ordered for any internal meeting.
	For external meetings, catering procurement requires director-level sign-off and are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.
	
		
			 2010-11 
			  £000 
			 Ministry of Justice HQ(1) 420 
			 Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service(2) 5,376 
			 National Offender Management Service(3) 60,957 
			 Office for the Public Guardian 2 
			 Total 66,755 
			 (1) MOJ HQ—Catering costs for external meetings (i.e. including visitors/attendees external to the organisation) and staff training courses. (2) HMCTS—In addition to catering costs for external meetings and staff training courses, the figures also include the cost of catering for judiciary and jurors. (3) NOMS—The cost of food is in respect of public sector prisons, and almost entirely relates to the cost of providing food to the prison population in England and Wales. It does not include any associated costs such as contracted catering services, staff and prisoner labour and training costs, the purchase of kitchen and servery facilities, utilities and other overheads. These figures also include a minor element for the cost of external meetings and staff training courses.

Departmental Manpower

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many full-time equivalent staff were employed (a) in the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, (b) as an Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice, (c) on the Civil Justice Council, (d) on the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, (e) on the Criminal Cases Review Commission, (f) on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, (g) on the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee, (h) on the Crown Court Rule Committee, (i) on the Family Justice Council, (j) on the Family Procedure Rule Committee, (k) in the HM Inspectorate of Prisons, (l) in the HM Inspectorate of Probation, (m) on the Insolvency Rules Committee, (n) on the Judicial Appointments Commission, (o) as Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman, (p) in the Judicial Office, (q) on the Law Commission, (r) on the Legal Services Board, (s) on the Legal Services Commission, (t) in the National Offender Management Service, (u) in the Probation Service, (v) in the Court Funds Office, (w) in the Office of the Information Commissioner, (x) in the Office for Judicial Complaints, (y) as Legal Ombudsman, (z) in the Office of the Public Guardian, (aa) as an Official Solicitor and Public Trustee, (ab) on the Parole Board, (ac) as a Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, (ad) on the Sentencing Council, (ae) on the Tribunal procedure Committee, (af) as a Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses and (ag) on the Youth Justice Board on (i) 1 May 2010 and (ii) 1 November 2011.

Kenneth Clarke: The following table provides details of the numbers of full-time equivalent staff employed within the requested organisations:
	
		
			  Civil servants Public servants 
			  30 April 2010 31 August 2011 30 April 2010 31 August 2011 
			 Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council 9.00 7.80 — — 
			 Assessor for Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice — — n/a 0 
			 Civil Justice Council 4.00 7.00 n/a 0 
			 Civil Procedure Rule Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) — — (1)n/a 66.24 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) (2)114.88 363.82 — — 
			 Criminal Procedure Rule Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Crown Court Rule Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Family Justice Council 4.00 1.00 — — 
			 Family Rule Procedure Committee — — n/a 0 
			 HM Inspectorate of Prisons 35.42 36.13 — — 
			 HM Inspectorate of Probation 41.82 34.92 — — 
			 Insolvency Rules Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) — — (3)n/a 75.00 
			 Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman 9.36 8.38 — — 
			 Judicial Office 124.66 (4)139.20 — — 
			 Law Commission 50.10 40.31 — — 
			 Legal Services Board (LSB) — — (5)n/a 32.70 
			 Legal Services Commission (LSC) — — (4)n/a 1,414.60 
			 National Offender Management Service (NOMS) 49,144.92 (7)45,719.53 — — 
			 Probation Service (35 Trusts) — — (8)n/a 18,156.00 
			 Court Funds Office 129.18 86.29 — — 
			 Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) — — (9)n/a 322.79 
			 Office for Judicial Complaints 15.00 14.80 — — 
			 Legal Ombudsman — — (10)6.00 (10)8.00 
			 Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) 395.49 (11)436.07 — — 
			 Official Solicitor and Public Trustee 113.89 125.67 — — 
			 Parole Board — — (12)n/a 93.00 
		
	
	
		
			 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman 104.54 95.29 — — 
			 Sentencing Council 10.78 14.83 — — 
			 Tribunal Procedure Committee — — n/a 0 
			 Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses — — n/a 0 
			 Youth Justice Board (YJB) — — (13)N/A 216.86 
			 n/a = information for this date is not available because it is not held centrally. Where possible alternative data are provided as a footnote. (1) CCRC data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 81. (2) For 30 April 2010 the Ministry holds only the numbers of CICA staff employed within the Ministry. The data for 31 August 2011 include CICA staff within the Scottish Government. However, on 31 March 2010, the total number of CICA staff (including those within the Scottish Government was 370). (3) JAC data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 98. (4) The increase in Judicial Office staff was the result of a restructure exercise, where staff from MOJ HQ assigned to Judicial Office duties were transferred to the Judicial Office. (5) LSB data are available for 30 June 2010. Total staff was 32.6. (6) LSC data are available for 30 June 2010. Total staff was 1,437.9. (7) The change in staff numbers in NOMS also reflects a transfer of 1,200 NOMS HQ staff to MOJ HQ. (8) Probation Service data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 20,440. (9) OIC data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 313. (10) Includes chief ombudsman. Two ombudsman were recruited to vacancies in June 2010. (11) The OPG office is being relocated to Birmingham and in the transition period covering the move there is an overlap where staff have been recruited in Birmingham before staff in London are released. (12) Parole Board data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 95. (13) YJB data are available for 31 March 2010. Total staff was 272. Note: Information is available for executive non-departmental public bodies (CCRC, CICA, JAC, LSC, LSB, Parole Board and YJB) as at 30 June 2010 and at 31 March 2011 as part of the transparency agenda and can be accessed at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/senior-civil-service-salaries-and-organograms.htm

Parliamentary Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date.

Jonathan Djanogly: In the current session from May 2010 to 9 December 2011 the Ministry of Justice answered 4,190 ordinary written questions. Of those, 4,158 (99.24%) were answered within 10 sitting days, 26 (0.62%) within 20 sitting days, five (0.12%) within 30 sitting days and one (0.02%) after more than 30 sitting days.
	These figures have been drawn from MOJ's PQ database, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments’ performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.

Domestic Violence: Crime Prevention

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many restraining orders have been made under section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 following (a) sentence and (b) acquittal for any offence in each of the last five years;
	(2)  in how many cases a restraining order under section 12 of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 has been made following an application by a victim since September 2009.

Crispin Blunt: On 30 September 2009, section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 amended section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to allow a restraining order to be granted following conviction for any offence and even where a defendant is acquitted.
	The number of restraining orders issued under sections 5 (following conviction) and 5A (following acquittal) of the Protection from Harassment Act from 2006 to 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.
	Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include all the details of the circumstances associated with each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is therefore not possible to separately identify those restraining orders issued as a result of an application by a victim from those issued under other circumstances.
	
		
			 Restraining orders issued at all courts in England and Wales under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in each year between 2006 and 2010 
			 Disposal 2006 2007 2008 (1) 2009 2010 
			 Restraining order issued under:      
			 Section 5 (issued following conviction)(2) 2,722 2,631 3,081 5,073 10,094 
			 Section 5A (issued following acquittal)(3) n/a n/a n/a — 647 
			 n/a = Not applicable (1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (2) On 30 September 2009, section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 came into force. This provision amended section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. This amendment enables the court to impose a restraining order in a much wider range of circumstances than previously. Under these rules, restraining orders can be granted following conviction for any offence. (3) On 30 September 2009. section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 came into force. This added an additional provision (section 5A), which allows a court to impose a restraining order on acquittal if it considers it necessary to protect a person from harassment by the defendant. Notes: 1. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Employment Tribunal Service

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases of (a) an unpaid employment tribunal award and (b) an unpaid ACAS settlement have been passed to High Court enforcement officers under the ACAS and Employment Tribunal Fast Track enforcement mechanism since its introduction; and in how many such cases the unpaid award or settlement was (i) fully, (ii) partially and (iii) not recovered.

Jonathan Djanogly: 2,072 unpaid employment tribunal awards and 210 unpaid ACAS settlements have been passed to High Court enforcement officers under the ACAS and Employment Tribunal Fast Track since its commencement on 6 April 2010.
	The fast track is operated by the High Court Enforcement Officers Association and as such it is responsible for collation of performance data. The data requested are not segregated from other types of High Court enforcement and will require a specific collection exercise, which will be concluded by 31 January 2012. Thereafter I will write to you with the details.

Inquiries Act 2005

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the restriction order made by the Chairman of the Leveson Inquiry on 28 November 2011, if he will assess the effectiveness of the operation of section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have noted Lord Justice Leveson's ruling of 28 November 2011, but there are no plans to assess the effectiveness of section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005. The Ministry of Justice conducted post-legislative scrutiny of the Inquiries Act 2005 in 2010 and the memorandum submitted to the Justice Select Committee in October 2010 concluded that the measures introduced by the Inquiries Act 2005 had achieved the objectives of the legislation and the Justice Select Committee did not request full post-legislative scrutiny of the Act.

Police: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness among police officers and prison staff.

Jonathan Djanogly: As a Department, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is working to embed equality and diversity as a part of everyday business. As an employer the MOJ is committed to ensuring that our policies are fair and accessible to all, and as a provider of services, that this is done so in a way that meets the aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty (Equality Act, 2010).
	Police officers are not the responsibility of the MOJ. The Home Office has advised that the Initial Police Learning Programme addresses the needs of individuals who have communication difficulties. Further training available includes guidance and information for officers dealing with people who are hearing impaired and who have hearing disabilities.
	In respect of prison staff, there is not a separate specific policy on deaf awareness; rather this is encompassed in wider considerations on disabilities more generally. These include Prison Service and agency instructions on ensuring equality of treatment for staff and on our duties as a public authority. We have also launched a disability staff support network and there is an Equalities Group intranet site containing a suite of information and guidance around equality and diversity that can be accessed by managers and staff in NOMS HQ and public sector prisons.
	Through local monitoring, prison establishments and HQ groups must determine which interventions or adjustments are best suited to meet their particular needs in respect of staff and prisoners with disabilities. An example of this can be found at HMP Whatton, where there are staff who have been fully trained in British Sign Language (BSL) and so are able to assist prisoners who are deaf and able to sign.

Police: Information

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research has been commissioned by his Department on the effectiveness of police information notices.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has not commissioned any research on this, as it is a matter for the Home Office.

Postcodes

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department uses postcodes for purposes other than the postage of mail.

Kenneth Clarke: Aside from postage purposes, the Ministry of Justice uses postcodes operationally to help identify suppliers on its finance systems. A thorough investigation into the uses of postcodes throughout the organisation would incur disproportionate costs, though it is possible that some teams within the organisation would also use them for similar, statistical or demographic purposes.

Prisons: Finance

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much he had budgeted for the adult prison estate at the start of 2011-12; and what the revised estimate was of expenditure in 2011-12 on 1 December 2011.

Crispin Blunt: The resource budget allocations for the adult prison estate for private and public prisons in England and Wales at the start of April 2011 was £1,835.4 million. The revised estimated expenditure in December 2011 is £1,842.7 million.
	Notes:
	1. Establishments are categorised by their main role and where they have more than one role, they are placed in the category that represents the primary or dominant function of the prison. The overall establishment budgets represents all prisons where the majority use was as adult prison.
	2. Allocated budgets may be subject to amendment during the financial year.

Translation Services

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the (a) average and (b) maximum delay was in the provision of interpreters and translators in (i) courts and (ii) tribunals in November (A) 2010 and (B) 2011;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on the provision of language services in the 12 months before those services were outsourced;
	(3)  how many interpreters and translators were used by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in each month since October 2010;
	(4)  what representations he has received from professional bodies representing interpreters and translators on the transfer to Accredited Language Services of his Department's interpretation services;
	(5)  how many organisations tendered for his Department's interpretation service contract that was awarded to Accredited Language Services.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows.
	(1) Information on delay in the provision of language services is not collected. Under our new contract for language services we will in future be able to monitor whether assignments are delivered on time.
	(2) The latest figure available is for the 2010-11 financial year, when costs were estimated to be in the region of £25.8 million.
	(3) Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service does not record the number of interpreters and translators used in each month.
	(4) The Ministry sought and received a range of views, both from individual interpreters and their various representative groups. We have also conducted meetings with a range of those groups, and invited stakeholders to submit their views directly to the project through a dedicated email address. My officials sought views on the specific proposals as they had emerged from the competitive dialogue process, which was undertaken between 30 March 2011 and 4 May 2011. We received a wide range of views in response. All of the responses received were carefully considered by the project team, and formed part of the advice submitted to me when making the decision whether to move to the Framework Agreement. The Ministry continues to receive, consider and respond to correspondence from interested parties and groups.
	(5) 126 companies submitted an expression of interest. Of those, 67 submitted a completed pre-qualification questionnaire. 12 were invited to dialogue, six were invited to submit Outline Solutions, three were invited to submit detailed solutions and one (Applied Language Solutions) was invited to submit a final tender.

Witnesses

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many witnesses were called to give evidence in (a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts in each year from 1997 to 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: Information about the total number of witnesses called to give evidence in the magistrates courts and Crown court is not held centrally, as it is not recorded by court staff electronically as part of their routine daily administrative duties.

HEALTH

Air Pollution

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the monetary value of benefits to public health for every pound spent on improving air quality.

Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member for Brent North (Barry Gardiner) to the answer I gave him on 21 November 2011, Official Report, column 188W.

Alcoholic Drinks: Ex-servicemen

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of alcohol abuse amongst military veterans.

Simon Burns: The requested information is not collected centrally. However, according to Dr Nicola Fear, Dr Dan Wood and Professor Simon Wessely in their 2009 report 'Health and Social Outcomes and Health Experiences of UK Military Veterans' (Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health/The King's Centre for Military Health Research November 2009), alcohol problems feature among the most common mental health problems for ex-service personnel, along with depression and anxiety disorders. For serving and ex-service personnel, the prevalence of hazardous drinking is far higher than in the general population.
	The Department is doing much to improve mental health outcomes for veterans, following the publication of my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison)’s report ‘Fighting Fit' in October 2010. The Department contributed £7.2 million to the implementation of the recommendations coming out of this report. One of the key features of the work completed to date is the launch of integrated veterans' mental health services in each of the 10 existing strategic health authority areas. These have a holistic focus on mental health, and contributing factors, including alcohol and substance abuse. They are up and running in the north and south-west, and roll-out will continue to the end of the current financial year.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times stomach pumping was used in NHS hospitals for the treatment of excessive alcohol consumption since 1 January 2011; what proportion of patients so treated were under the age of 18; and how these figures compare to the equivalent time period in 2010.

Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Alcoholic Drinks: Obesity

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females under the age of 18 have been treated for (i) alcohol-induced and (ii) obesity-induced illness in NHS hospitals (A) since 1 January 2011 and (B) in the equivalent period in 2010.

Anne Milton: Provisional figures show that the estimated number of males under the age of 18 that have been treated for alcohol-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2011 was 3,579 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 3,859.
	The estimated number of females under the age of 18 that have been treated for alcohol-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2011 is 4,393 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 4,746.
	The estimated number of males under the age of 18 that have been treated for obesity-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2001 is 193 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 208.
	The estimated number of females under the age of 18 that have been treated for obesity-induced illness in national health service hospitals since 1 January 2011 is 228 and in the equivalent period in 2010 (January 2010 - August 2010) was 258.
	This is shown in the following table. The data in the table should not be described as a count of people, as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion.
	
		
			 Count of alcohol-related admissions (1)  and admissions (2)  with a primary diagnosis (3)  of Obesity, for people aged Under 18 (4) , by gender, for the period January 2010—August 2010 and January 2011—August 2011 (5)  (Data from April-August 2011 are provisional) (6) —Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  January-March 2010 April-August 2010 Total January-March 2011 April-August 2011 (Provisional) Total 
			 Alcohol attributable fractions:       
			 Male 1,350 2,509 3,859 1,330 2,250 3,579 
			 Female 1,766 2,980 4,746 1,710 2,683 4,393 
			        
			 Obesity:       
			 Male 77 131 208 72 121 193 
			 Female 111 147 258 88 140 228 
			 (1) Alcohol-related admissions. The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at: http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf The application of the NWPHO methodology has recently been updated and is now available directly from Hospital Episode Statistics. As such, information about episodes estimated to be alcohol related may be slightly different from previously published data. (2) Finished admission episodes. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (3) Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. ICD-10 codes used: E66: Obesity (4) Age The attributable fractions are not applicable to children under 16. Therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly-attributable admissions, where the attributable fraction is one. (5) Provisional data: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, ie November from the (month nine) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. (6) Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Note: Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Benzodiazepines

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many products containing benzodiazepines are licensed for use; what their names are; how many companies hold licences for the manufacture or distribution of each product; and how many of those licences were issued in each of the last three years.

Simon Burns: There are currently 87 products authorised in the United Kingdom containing benzodiazepines. There are 25 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them. Details are provided in the following table for each benzodiazepine. No new marketing authorisations for benzodiazepines have been issued in the last three years.
	
		
			 Drug substance Authorisation holder company Licensed product name 
			 Alprazolam Pharmacia Limited Xanax tablets 250 micrograms 
			 Alprazolam Pharmacia Limited Xanax tablets 500 micrograms 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Athlone Laboratories Limited Chlordiaz Epoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Athlone Laboratories Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules BP 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg film-coated tablets 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg film-coated tablets 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Dr Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Meda Pharmaceuticals Limited Librium 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Meda Pharmaceuticals Limited Librium 10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Chlordiazepoxide.10mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Crescent Pharma Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules BP 5mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Crescent Pharma Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules BP 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride . Chelonia Healthcare Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Chelonia Healthcare Limited Chlordiazepoxide capsules 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Chelonia Healthcare Limited Tropium tablets 5mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Chelonia Healthcare Limited Tropium tablets 10mg 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Genethics (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 5mg tablets 
			 Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride Genethics (UK) Limited Chlordiazepoxide 10mg tablets 
			 Clobazam Aventis Pharma Limited Frisium tablets 10mg 
			 Clobazam Auden Mckenzie Limited Clobazam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam tablets BP 2mg 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Actavis UK Limited Diazepam oral solution BP 2mg/5ml 
			 Diazepam Hameln Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam injection BP 
			 Diazepam Sandoz Limited Diazepam syrup 2mg/5ml 
			 Diazepam Sandoz Limited Diazepam rectal tubes 5mg 
			 Diazepam Sandoz Limited Diazepam rectal tubes 10mg 
			 Diazepam Pharmvit Limited Diazepam tablets 2mg BP 
			 Diazepam Pharmvit Limited Diazepam tablets 5mg BP. 
			 Diazepam Pharmvit Limited Diazepam tablets 10mg BP 
			 Diazepam Generics (UK) Limited Diazepam tablets BP 2mg 
			 Diazepam Generics (UK) Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Waymade plc Diazepam 2mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Waymade plc Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Waymade plc Diazepam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Diazepam tablets BP. 2mg 
			 Diazepam Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Ranbaxy Ireland Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam 2mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Relonchem Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Crescent Pharma Limited Diazepam tablets BP 2mg 
			 Diazepam Crescent Pharma Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Crescent Pharma Limited Diazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam 5mg/ml solution for injection 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 10mg rectal solution 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 2.5mg rectal solution 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 5mg rectal solution 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam Rectubes 20mg 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam 10mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK. Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Wockhardt UK Limited Diazepam 2mg tablets 
			 Diazepam Athlone Pharmaceuticals Limited Diazepam tablets BP 5mg 
			 Diazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Diazepam 2mg 
		
	
	
		
			 Diazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Diazepam 5mg 
			 Diazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Diazepam 10mg 
			 Diazepam FOURRTS (UK) Pharmacare Limited Diazepam 5mg tablets BP 
			 Dipotassium Clorazepate Boehringer Ingelheim Limited Tranxene 3.5mg capsules 
			 Dipotassium Clorazepate Boehringer Ingelheim Limited Tranxene 7.5mg capsules 
			 Dipotassium Clorazepate Boehringer Ingelheim Limited Tranxene 15mg capsules 
			 Lorazepam Norton Healthcare Limited Lorazepam tablets BP 1 mg 
			 Lorazepam Norton Healthcare Limited Lorazepam tablets BP 2.5 mg 
			 Lorazepam Sandoz Limited Lorazepam tablet BP 1 mg 
			 Lorazepam Sandoz Limited Lorazepam tablet BP 2.5 mg 
			 Lorazepam Pharmvit Limited Lorazepam tablets 1mg 
			 Lorazepam Pharmvit Limited Lorazepam tablets 2.5mg 
			 Lorazepam Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited Lorazepam 1mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam . Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited Lorazepam 2.5mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Lorazepam 1mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam Metwest Pharmaceuticals Limited Lorazepam 2.5mg tablets 
			 Lorazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Lorazium tablets 1mg 
			 Lorazepam Chelonia Healthcare Limited Lorazium tablets 2.5mg 
			 Oxazepam Actavis UK Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Oxazepam Actavis UK Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Generics (UK) Limited Oxazepam tablets 10mg 
			 Oxazepam Generics (UK) Limited Oxazepam tablets 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Generics (UK) Limited Oxazepam tablets 30mg 
			 Oxazepam Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited Oxazepam tablets 10mg 
			 Oxazepam Genus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Limited Oxazepam tablets 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Zecare Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 10mg 
			 Oxazepam Zecare Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 15mg 
			 Oxazepam Zecare Limited Oxazepam tablets BP 30mg

Blood: Imports

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 76W, on fresh frozen plasma, whether the figures in the table include (a) the cost of importing fresh frozen plasma from the Austrian Red Cross and (b) the cost of processing that imported fresh frozen plasma.

Anne Milton: NHS Blood and Transplant has confirmed that the cost of £4,949,045 for plasma processing, provided on 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 76W, does include the cost of importing and processing fresh frozen plasma from the Austrian Red Cross.

Cancer: Drugs

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to increase supply of the Caelyx brand of liposomal doxorubicin to allow cancer patients partway through a course of treatment with Caelyx to complete their planned course.

Simon Burns: Due to production problems in the United States of America, the manufacturer of Caelyx (doxorubicin hydrochloride) is currently unable to supply the United Kingdom market.
	We are in close contact with the company and we understand that it is unable to provide a date when Caelyx will return to the market.
	In the meantime, there are alternative treatments available in the UK and clinicians are working with affected patients to ensure continuity of care.

Contraceptives

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department will provide to local authorities on how they should undertake a needs assessment of contraceptive services in their locality to ensure choice and open access to such services.

Anne Milton: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the intention is to mandate local authorities through regulations to commission open access sexual health services, including open access contraception services. The Department will work with Public Health England and colleagues in local authorities to examine the available support to help them to commission these services.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were working in his Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011.

Simon Burns: At 11 May 2010, there were 2,594.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) civil servants working in the Department. This figure included those on loan to the Department from other Government Departments and on fixed-term contracts. At 8 December 2011 there were 2,332.5 FTE: civil servants, also including loans-in and fixed-term appointees.
	In addition, 805.4 FTE non-permanent workers (secondees-in, contractors, consultants and agency staff) were working in the Department on 11 May 2010 and 470.5 FTE non-permanent workers were in place on 8 December 2011.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetes specialists there are on health and well-being boards.

Paul Burstow: The Health and Social Care Bill mandates the minimum membership of health and wellbeing boards. Local authorities and boards will be free to expand their membership beyond this in a way that reflects local needs and priorities—a decision best left to local discretion.
	We expect boards to engage with a variety of partners to ensure the right expertise including clinical experts, such as diabetes specialists, influences both the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and joint health and wellbeing strategy.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when (a) he and (b) his officials next plan to raise with (i) the European Commissioner, (ii) his ministerial counterparts in other EU member states and (iii) officials in other member states his plans for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive;
	(2)  when he last discussed with the European Commission his plans for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; and what response he received;
	(3)  when his plans are for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; and whether he plans to seek to repatriate to the UK competence for legislation in this area.

Anne Milton: I last met with European Commissioner for Health, John Dalli on 19 November 2010, to discuss United Kingdom concerns about the setting of maximum limits for food supplements.
	I pressed for any future changes to the legislation to be based on scientific evidence of risk and not be unduly restrictive, so that the impact on UK industry is minimised, while maintaining consumer choice. Commissioner Dalli has confirmed that he recognises the UK's concerns and will take this into account in developing proposals.
	The Commission has yet to indicate when negotiations on this issue will recommence and further to earlier discussions we have no immediate plans to pursue this formally, although informal discussions may occasionally arise at meetings in Europe. The setting of maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements is an area of EU competency, as such the UK is legally bound to implement legislation agreed by a majority of member states.

Endometriosis

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase early diagnosis of endometriosis.

Anne Milton: Information for the public on the causes and diagnosis of endometriosis is available on the NHS Choices website.
	www.nhs.uk/conditions/endometriosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
	The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has developed a guideline on the investigation and management of endometriosis for health care professionals and an associated patient information leaflet, both of which are available on the RCOG website at:
	www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/investigation-and-management-endometriosis-green-top-24
	www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/endometriosis-what-you-need-know
	Endometriosis is a specific topic within the undergraduate medical curriculum and in core specialist medical training for obstetricians and gynaecologists.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington of 6 September 2011, Official Report, column 558W, on abortion, when the Government plans to publish its sexual health policy document; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Department plans to publish its sexual health policy document in spring 2012.

Health Professions: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness amongst (a) staff in care homes and (b) doctors, nurses and hospital staff.

Paul Burstow: Health and social care services delivering support to people with disabilities have to ensure that they are fully compliant with the law, especially the Equality Act 2010. The general public sector equality duty in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 requires public authorities to pay due regard to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity including making reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of the disabled people who use their services. An example of how national health service organisations are tackling this is the Equality Delivery System (EDS) which enables NHS organisations, working with local partners, to analyse their performance, and set equality objectives as part of mainstream business plans. The EDS includes examples of reasonable adjustments for people who are deaf.

Health Services: Finance

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken by specialised commissioning groups of (a) in-year costs of treatment and (b) long-term savings in making their funding decisions.

Simon Burns: This is primarily a matter for the local national health service. Specialised Commissioning Groups (SCGs) are accountable to their primary care trusts (PCTs) on all matters of governance including their financial decisions. SCGs will consider the cost and clinical effectiveness, the potential health gain and the opportunity costs and benefits of any proposal. As joint committees of PCTs, they will need to keep in mind the duty not to exceed spending limits.

Heart Diseases

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to include (a) atrial fibrillation and (b) other arrhythmias in the outcomes strategy for cardiovascular disease.

Simon Burns: Work on the outcomes strategy for cardiovascular disease is at the very early stages. Decisions on the conditions to be included will be made as the strategy is developed in the new year.

Herbalife International

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when (a) he and (b) officials of his Department last (i) met and (ii) corresponded or otherwise communicated with representatives of (A) Herbalife UK Ltd and (B) any other member of the Herbalife International group; and for what purpose.

Anne Milton: I have not met or corresponded with members of the Herbalife group of companies.
	Departmental officials regularly correspond with industry, including United Kingdom representatives of Herbalife Europe and International, to update them on regulatory issues. The last occasion was on 15 December 2011 about the agreed text for Commission Implementing Regulation establishing implementing rules for the application of article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods.
	Departmental officials last met with a representative of Herbalife Europe on 12 December 2010 regarding the impact of European Union health claims legislation on the food supplements industry.
	Officials of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have had no meetings with either representatives of Herbalife UK Ltd or any other member of the Herbalife International Group. The MHRA last wrote to a member of Herbalife on 18 September 2006 when they gave advice on the likely legislative status on a range of six products.

Hospitals: Young People

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 years have been treated by NHS hospitals in 2011 up to the most recent date for which information is available; and what the equivalent figure is for the same period in 2010.

Anne Milton: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Information on finished admission episodes April to August 2011 and accident and emergency (A and E) attendances April 2010 to August 2011 is provisional.
	
		
			 Finished admission episodes (1)  for under-18s in NHS hospitals (2)  in 2010 and 2011 
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 January 164,250 
			 February 163,749 
			 March 189,185 
			 April 169,967 
			 May 173,559 
			 June 170,483 
			 July 175,398 
			 August 162,171 
			 Total 1,368,762 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 176,231 
			 February 170,387 
			 March 191,351 
			 April 169,388 
			 May 171,610 
			 June 172,128 
			 July 173,410 
			 August 163,562 
			 Total 1,388,067 
			 (1) A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data are tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. The quality of TC returns is such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures. Note: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			 A and E attendances for under-18s in NHS hospitals (1)  in 2010 and 2011 
			  Number 
			 2010  
			 January 255,455 
			 February 264,497 
			 March 357,987 
			 April 340,627 
			 May 373,669 
			 June 345,111 
			 July 343,501 
			 August 274,610 
			 Total 2,555,457 
			   
			 2011  
			 January 305,114 
			 February 303,798 
			 March 388,830 
			 April 362,079 
			 May 363,812 
			 June 333,518 
			 July 342,505 
			 August 279,636 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 2,679,292 
			 (1) Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data are tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. The quality of TC returns is such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures. Note: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Lung Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of (a) the existence of a gap in outcomes in cases of lung cancer between England and other Western European countries and (b) the reasons for any such gap.

Paul Burstow: We know England's cancer survival rates are currently poorer than many comparable countries. To understand more about the reasons for the differences in survival rates between England and other comparable countries, we have established the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP). The ICBP seeks to understand how and why cancer survival rates vary between countries and jurisdictions.
	Membership of the ICBP covers 12 jurisdictions in six countries comprising Australia (New South Wales and Victoria); Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario); Denmark; Norway; Sweden; and the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland and Wales). To ensure the validity and comparability of data between countries, ICBP partners were invited on the basis of broadly comparable wealth, universal access to health care and the existence of longstanding, high-quality, population-based cancer registration.
	Lung cancer is one the four cancers we are looking at as part of the study. In December 2010, the ICBP published “Cancer survival in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK, 1995-2007 (the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership): an analysis of population-based cancer registry data”. The report showed that survival has continued to improve for each cancer in all six countries, but generally remained higher in Australia, Canada, and Sweden, intermediate in Norway, and lower in Denmark and the UK. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.
	The following table summarises England's survival rates for 2005-07, alongside those of the best performing country or jurisdiction.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			 Cancer England Sweden Leading jurisdiction Gap to leading jurisdiction 
			 Lung cancer (1 year) 29.7 43.6 (1)43.6 13.9 
			 Lung cancer (5 year) 8.7 16.3 (2)20.1 11.4 
			 (1) Sweden (2) Manitoba Note: Analyses for 2005-07 are period estimates for patients diagnosed during 2005-07, or diagnosed earlier but alive on 1 January 2005. 
		
	
	The patterns of lower survival rates in England are consistent with later stage at diagnosis or differences in treatment. The ICBP plans to publish a report on the lung cancer survival information in the first half of 2012.

Meningitis

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued guidance to GP consortia on (a) measures to deal with meningitis and (b) provision of psychological support for patients who have lost limbs as a result of the disease.

Simon Burns: No guidance has been issued. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the National Health Service Commissioning Board will be responsible for supporting clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), previously known as general practitioner consortia, in their commissioning decisions. This will include publishing commissioning guidance to which CCGs must have regard. This will be based on the quality standards that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has developed on the board's behalf. The board will also develop a commissioning outcomes framework to help hold CCGs to account for the quality of the health care services they commission.

Meningitis: Plymouth

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of meningitis were diagnosed in Plymouth in the last 12 months; and how many were of people aged (a) under and (b) over 16.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table:
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes (1)  with a primary diagnosis of Meningitis (2)  by selected age groups in Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) (3)  2010-11 
			 Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Age Count 
			 Under 16 7 
		
	
	
		
			 16 and over 21 
			 (1) Finished admission episodes: A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Primary diagnosis: The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. Diagnosis Codes used for Meningitis: G00.0 Haemophilus meningitis. G00.1 Pneumococcal meningitis. G00.2 Streptococcal meningitis. G00.3 Staphylococcal meningitis. G00.9 Bacterial meningitis, unspecified. G03 Meningitis due to other unspecified causes. A87 Viral Meningitis. A87.0D Enteroviral meningitis (with G02.0A) A87.1D Adenoviral meningitis (with G02.0A) A39.2 Acute meningococcaemia. A39.3 Chronic meningococcaemia. A39.4 Meningococcaemia, unspecified. A search must be performed to locate the following codes; these would not be found in the primary field. The following asterisk codes (* or A) would be found in a SECONDARY position and their presence in the coded record indicates meningitis: G01.X A Meningitis in bacterial diseases classified elsewhere. G02.0 A Meningitis in viral diseases classified elsewhere. G02.1 A Meningitis in mycoses. G02.8 A Meningitis in other specified infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere. The following two codes must be paired together to indicate eosinophilic meningitis: B83.2 D Angiostrongyliasis due to Parastrongylus cantonensis. G05.2 A Encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis in other infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere. The ICD-10 codes required for meningococcal meningitis are: A39.0 D Meningococcal meningitis. G01.X A Meningitis in bacterial diseases classified elsewhere. (3) Strategic Health Authority/PCT of residence: The SHA or PCT containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was. treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. These data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. Source: HES, the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total budget allocated to the NHS was spent on children and adolescent mental health services in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: Child and adolescent mental health services are complex, ranging from universal provision to highly specialised services and are funded by both the national health service and local authorities. It is the responsibility of local commissioners to make commissioning decisions informed by a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people in their communities.
	A total of £89 billion has been made available in primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations for 2011-12. This represents an increase of £2.6 billion in 2010-11. The available NHS expenditure figures on mental health disorders are shown in the following table. These are from estimated England level programme budgeting data, which are calculated using PCT and strategic health authority programme budgeting returns and the Department's resource accounts data. Figures also include an estimation of the Department's and special health authority expenditure.
	
		
			  Gross Expenditure (£000s) 
			 Programme Budgeting Category 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Total Expenditure on Mental Health Disorders 9,125,744 10,278,503 10,477,252 11,261,656 11,906,280 
			 Substance Misuse 716,326 832,522 926,728 987,468 1,094,819 
			 Organic Mental Disorders 752,920 768,386 878,036 1,315,233 1,511,315 
			 Psychotic Disorders 1,294,807 1,703,995 1,839,404 2,168,470 1,710,362 
			 Child and Adolescent 716,726 736,353 687,097 772,114 755,807 
			 Other Mental Health 5,644,965 6,237,247 6,145,988 6,018,371 6,833,955 
			       
			 Total Gross Expenditure 84,193,209 93,183,426 96,814,987 103,974,957 107,003,261 
		
	
	Expenditure on some services areas or activities is not included if it is not possible to make a reasonable estimation of expenditure by specific disease area. For this reason expenditure on some health care activity, including general practitioner services will be excluded from the total expenditure on mental health figures above.
	If it is not possible to separately identify expenditure on child and adolescent mental health from other mental health services then expenditure will be classified as ‘other mental health'.
	Continual refinements are made to the programme budgeting data calculation methodology on an annual basis, for this reason, programme budgeting data cannot be used to analyse changes in investment in specific disease areas between years. Significant changes were made to the data collection in 2010-11, when the basis of estimation for disease specific expenditure changed from provider reference costs to the price paid for services by commissioners.

Mental Health: Ex-servicemen

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of (a) homelessness and (b) mental health problems amongst military veterans.

Simon Burns: The level of homelessness among military veterans is not the responsibility of the Department of Health but that of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), who have provided us with the following information:
	Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns.
	Information is collected on the number of households accepted as being statutory homeless whose main reason for loss of last settled home was having left the armed forces. This will not include households containing people who have previously been in the armed forces but were made homeless for other reasons. This information was first collected in 2005-06 and is given as follows:
	
		
			 Number of h ouseholds with reason of last settled home being having left the armed forces 
			  Number 
			 2005-06 270 
			 2006-07 200 
			 2007-08 220 
			 2008-09 160 
			 2009-10 120 
			 2010-11 150 
			 Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10 households. Source: P1E returns 
		
	
	Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and a summary is published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
	www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Turning to veterans' mental health, this information is not collected centrally. However, the Department of Health is doing much to improve veterans’ mental health and wellbeing, following the publication of my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison)’s report “Fighting Fit” published in October 2010. The Department has committed £7.2 million over the next four years of the spending review period to the implementation of the reports recommendations. Examples include, setting up a 24-hour veterans' helpline; the launch of an online counselling service ‘Big White Wall'; and the launch of integrated veterans' mental health services in each of the existing strategic health authority areas, by the end of the current financial year.

NHS

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS organisations other than hospitals (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department has visited since May 2010; and on what date each such visit took place.

Simon Burns: Information on all ministerial visits, including those to national health service organisations, has been placed in the Library.

NHS Walk-in Centres: Wythenshawe

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a decision on the referral from Manchester's Health Scrutiny Committee of the decision to close the NHS walk-in centre in Wythenshawe.

Simon Burns: Following initial advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel on NHS Manchester's proposals for the relocation of Wythenshawe forum, Withington and Ancoats walk in centres, the decision of the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), was made public on 19 December 2011.

Organs: Donors

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 351W, on organs: donors, on what evidential basis he expects a 50% increase in deceased donor numbers in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The expectation of achieving the 50% increase in donor rates by 2013 is based on latest available figures showing that deceased donor numbers have increased by 31.4% against the 2007-08 baseline. We are on target to achieve a 35% increase by March 2012 and a 50% increase by the following year as it is expected that there will be even greater increments in the last year. The appointment of Chris Rudge to chair a Transitional Steering Group pending the introduction of the new Commissioning Board will also help maintain the momentum of improvement focusing action on increasing consent rates, encouraging deceased donation in all appropriate circumstances and increasing donation from emergency medicine.

Prescription Drugs

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that counterfeit medications do not enter the NHS supply chain; and what effects such medications have had on the pharmaceutical industry.

Simon Burns: Counterfeit medicines rarely reach patients through the regulated supply chain and are more commonly available to consumers via unregulated websites. Although no fatalities have been attributed to counterfeit medicine in the United Kingdom, it is acknowledged that all counterfeit medicines are dangerous and pose a risk to patient health.
	In response, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for regulation of medicines for human use and medical devices, has developed and implemented a comprehensive Anti-Counterfeiting Strategy to combat the threat posed by the infiltration of counterfeit medicines and devices into the UK market.
	A number of public awareness campaigns have been delivered, both by MHRA and also by MHRA in conjunction with other stakeholders such as the General Pharmaceutical Council and patient groups.
	The MHRA monitors the internet for websites operating within the UK supplying medicines illegally, makes test purchases from these sites and, as a result, has successfully prosecuted a number of individuals. All referrals involving suspected counterfeit medicines are investigated thoroughly and necessary action is taken to protect public health. Enforcement activity is closely co-ordinated with other enforcement authorities around the world and MHRA regularly engages in international initiatives to tackle this issue.
	The MHRA also chairs an anti-counterfeit stakeholders group, with representatives from, among others, UK police forces, regulators and industry, where intelligence concerning counterfeit medicines is regularly reviewed and assessed.
	New requirements for wholesalers and distributors of medicines will be introduced by the Falsified Medicines Directive in January 2013. Further proposals affecting the pharmaceutical industry are being considered as part of the UK Supply Chain review.

Skin Cancer

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to raise the awareness of (a) GPs and (b) the public of the dangers posed by non-melanoma skin cancers that can be caused by regular exposure to the sun;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the importance of people having regular skin checks.

Paul Burstow: In 2011-12, to provide information and advice to the public and health professionals, we have funded SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention campaign. SunSmart activities have included producing and distributing educational materials, organising a schools campaign, providing support to local providers working on skin cancer prevention and a major targeted marketing campaign in conjunction with a popular music festival.
	The SunSmart website also provides additional information about how to reduce your risk of skin cancer as well as how to spot the symptoms of the disease at:
	www.sunsmart.org.uk
	Information on the causes of non-melanoma and malignant melanoma can also be found on the NHS Choices website at:
	www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-skin/Pages/Causes.aspx
	and at:
	www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malignant-melanoma/Pages/Causes.aspx
	Cancer Research UK is currently running ‘R UV Ugly’, a campaign funded by a Third Sector Investment Programme grant from the Department, to raise awareness of the dangers of sunbeds and the benefits of skin checks. The campaign is being run in partnership with SK:n who provide free ultraviolet scans in their clinics across England.
	We have provided a further Third Sector Investment Programme grant to Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists to develop a toolkit to provide practical online support and training to help general practitioners (GPs) with pattern recognition for skin lesions. The toolkit will be piloted in early 2012 before a planned national roll-out and is being developed in consultation with an expert advisory group consisting of GPs and dermatologists.
	As part of our programme of work to deliver earlier diagnosis of cancer, to improve survival rates, a range of actions has been undertaken to support GPs in referring appropriate patients to secondary care. We are also in the process of considering further possible action to improve the public's awareness of the symptoms of the less common cancers.
	The Department has also published implementation guidance for local authorities on the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 and information for sunbed businesses. The purpose of the Act is to prevent those under 18 years from being allowed to use sunbeds in commercial premises.

TREASURY

Association of British Insurers

Edward Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with the Association of British Insurers since the March 2011 Budget.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Banks: Pay

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the transposition of the EU Capital Requirements Directive IV into UK law for the implementation of the recommendations of the Vickers Report.

Mark Hoban: The European Commission published its legislative proposals on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms, the Capital Requirements Regulation and Capital Requirements Directive IV, in July 2011. This will, in part implement the Basel III accords in the EU.
	As stated in the Government's response to the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB), the current draft EU legislation constrains the ability of member states to impose tougher minimum regulatory standards on banks, and restricts member states' ability to use some macro-prudential tools. However, negotiations are ongoing and the Government will continue to work with the European Commission and like-minded member states to provide member states with the flexibility necessary to implement more stringent minimum requirements. Such amendments would provide the basis in EU legislation to enable the Government to implement the ICB package.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which information is available.

Chloe Smith: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Official Hospitality

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in each of the last 12 months.

Chloe Smith: Spending by Treasury Ministers during the period October 2010 to September 2011 on official hospitality is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			 October 2010-September 2011 6,612 
		
	
	Spending on hospitality in previous financial years was:
	
		
			  £000 
			 2007-08 125 
			 2008-09 91 
			 2009-10 116 
			 2010-11 40 
		
	
	Expenditure on official hospitality is kept under rigorous scrutiny to ensure value for money and effectiveness and is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money.

Departmental Travel

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on the number of employees who use (a) cycle to work schemes, (b) employer-provided buses and (c) tax-free parking.

David Gauke: This information is not collected as there is no requirement for employers to report use of these benefits in kind to HM Revenue and Customs.
	I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer on 23 November 2011, Official Report, column 437W.

Economic and Monetary Union

Wayne David: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 27 October on the eurozone crisis, what he means by greater fiscal integration in the eurozone.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 7 November 2011
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and the Prime Minister, have been clear in their view that euro area countries need to accept the remorseless logic of monetary union that leads from a single currency to greater fiscal integration, to ensure that fiscal responsibility is hard-wired into the system.
	In their statement of 9 December, the euro area agreed that there should be tighter fiscal discipline as part of restoring market confidence, including tough new budgetary rules, more automatic sanctions, and stricter surveillance. The UK has made clear that, while it supports the euro area's intention for countries to come together to resolve their problems, we will only allow that to happen inside the European Union treaties if there are proper protections for the single market and for other key British interests.

Financial Services Bill

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the draft memorandum of understanding between each of the bodies in the UK regulatory structure proposed in the provisions of the draft Financial Services Bill.

Mark Hoban: The draft Financial Services Bill, published in June, provides for a number of different statutory memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The Government intend to make drafts of these MOUs available during the passage of the Bill in order to aid Parliament's scrutiny of the draft legislation.
	As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), explained to the Joint Committee on the draft Bill on 15 November 2011, before publishing a draft of the crisis management MOU between the Treasury and the Bank of England, the Government will consider:
	first, the recommendations of the Treasury Select Committee in its report into the accountability of the Bank of England (published on 8 November); and
	second, any relevant recommendations made by the Joint Committee itself in its report published on 19 December.

Financial Services: National Income

Hazel Blears: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK gross domestic product generated by the financial services sector in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15 and (e) 2015-16.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.

Infrastructure: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive about the National Infrastructure Plan.

Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Inland Revenue

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 791W, on the Inland Revenue, if he will take steps to ascertain from the Permanent Secretary for Tax, HM Revenue and Customs, whether he had responsibility as a Commissioner for the Inland Revenue Large Business Office between 1997 and 2000.

David Gauke: The Permanent Secretary for Tax at HMRC did not become a Commissioner for the Inland Revenue until July 2000 and so did not have responsibility for the Large Business Office between 1997 and 2000.

Japan Tobacco International: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Peter Hain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010.

Chloe Smith: Information about hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published quarterly by Departments. Information for the period 13 May 2010 to 30 June 2011 can be accessed on departmental websites. Information for 1 July onwards will be published in due course.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Maynard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys.

David Gauke: HM Treasury had no record of a letter from my hon. Friend of 12 October 2011. My officials now obtained a copy from his office and I shall reply shortly.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representatives from (a) HM Revenue and Customs, (b) the Department for Work and Pensions and (c) other bodies will sit on the monitoring body for the pilot from April 2012 of real-time pay-as-you-earn information; and who will decide whether the pilot should be extended.

David Gauke: holding answer 13 December 2011
	Around 300 volunteer software developers, employers and pension providers are taking part in the real time information (RTI) pilot which will start in April 2012. Depending on the findings from the pilot's early stages, an additional 1,300 volunteers will join in July.
	Another 250,000 employers could then be invited to start using the system in November.
	Ultimately, it will be for the RTI programme's senior responsible owner (SRO), in close consultation with industry, to decide at each stage whether or not the pilot should be extended. There is a specific governance mechanism in place to support the SRO in making these decisions. This group includes membership from the Department for Work and Pensions' universal credit programme office and key business areas from within HM Revenue and Customs as well as representatives from HMRC's IT partners, Aspire and Vocalink.
	The RTI programme as a whole has a number of governance and assurance forums, including a senior level programme board, which advise the SRO. Membership of these groups is drawn from the broad range of stakeholders affected by RTI.

Poverty: Rural Areas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of levels of rural poverty since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government publish annual data on poverty including in English rural areas. The latest data released on rural poverty cover 2009-10 and are available in the “Statistical Digest of Rural England 2011” published on DEFRA’s website in September 2011 at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13641-rural-digest2011.pdf
	Poverty in the UK’s rural areas outside England is a matter for the devolved Administrations.

Public Sector: Pay

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on public sector workers' income of the extension of the public sector pay freeze announced in the autumn statement as a proportion of net income in each income decile.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The pay freeze will not be extended. At the autumn statement the Chancellor announced that the public sector pay freeze for those earning over £21,000 would end after two years. Public sector pay will then average at 1% for the two years following the pay freeze. Individual Departments will need to consider how best to deliver the 1% average in their workforces.

Revenue and Customs: Email

Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Revenue and Customs expects to be able to answer all taxpayers' queries by e-mail.

David Gauke: HMRC has over 100 electronic contact services available to customers that offer a structured and secure means of communicating with HMRC through its website and we are always looking to provide more. HMRC will only introduce electronic contact solutions where we are certain about the authenticity of the person sending the e-mail and where there are strong controls around the data being sent.
	HMRC have recently consulted (http://hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/) on making an e-mail address a required element of a business's designatory information. We are currently analysing views and expect to formally publish results and HMRC's response early in the new year.

Revenue and Customs: Overtime

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely cost of overtime payments for staff in HM Revenue and Customs working to reduce the number of outstanding child benefit claims and average processing times.

David Gauke: holding answer 12 December 2011
	HMRC have spent £66,802 in 2011-12 on overtime to reduce average processing times for child benefit.

Unpaid Taxes: Business

Michael Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 71W, on taxation: business, what constitutes a reasonable period over which tax arrears can be paid; and whether such periods have changed over the last 12 months.

David Gauke: Time to pay arrangements are always negotiated over the shortest affordable period, rarely exceeding 12 months, although each case is considered individually on its own particular circumstances.
	HMRC remains absolutely committed to demonstrating a sympathetic approach to businesses that have genuine short-term difficulties in paying the tax they owe.
	These criteria and this approach have not changed in the last 12 months.

VAT: Electronic Publishing

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 539W, on VAT: electronic publishing, if he will consider implementing a measure similar to that in France for the reduction of VAT on unenriched e-books.

David Gauke: Under EU law, VAT on electronic books must be charged at the standard rate. A reduced rate cannot be applied to digital or electronic supplies, or supplies of text via the internet, as they are classed as supplies of services rather than physical goods. There is therefore no scope in the principal VAT directive to apply a reduced rate on e-books.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on new heating fuel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from (i) homes, (ii) businesses and (iii) public buildings in rural areas; and if he will support the inclusion of bio-liquids in the Renewable Heat Incentive from October 2012.

Gregory Barker: The Department has undertaken several evaluations of the use of bioliquid technologies for heat generation though the National Non-Food Crops Centre. The details of these have been published on their website at:
	http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/publications
	We will consider bioliquids for inclusion in the renewable heat incentive scheme in phase 2. However, before bioliquids can be supported under the scheme we need to establish a co-ordinated approach to their use so that the heat market does not unduly impact on other important uses, in particular transport. In addition, we would need to ensure we meet our legal commitments under the renewable energy directive by developing sustainability criteria.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: DECC's total expenditure in the year ending 31 March 2011 on catering services, entertainment and hospitality was £158,000. Of this total, expenditure on general catering with DECC's in-house provider during the financial year 2010-11 amounted to £66,000. This amount is likely to relate largely or wholly to catering for meetings, including drinks as well as food.
	DECC also paid the provider an additional £40,500 in contract costs over this period. From May 2011, DECC has received its catering through a new provider under a zero-cost arrangement where additional payments are not automatically required.
	DECC's catering service is delivered through a contract procured by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Electricity: Prices

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) likely and (b) maximum possible effect on the average household electricity bill by 2020 of not implementing the reductions to feed-in tariffs for (i) small-scale solar PV proposed in the comprehensive review and (ii) large-scale solar PV introduced after the fast track review.

Gregory Barker: Based on analysis undertaken at the time of the Fast Track Review, we have estimated that not implementing the changes to tariffs for large scale (greater than 50 kW) solar photovoltaics in the fast track review would have added approximately £10 (2010 prices, undiscounted) to the average domestic energy bill in 2020. This is based on the estimate of the cost to consumers under the ‘Do Nothing' option in the Fast Track Review impact assessment:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/fits-review/fast-track-review-announcement-impact-assessment.pdf
	As well as proposing new tariffs for small scale solar PV, the comprehensive review has also proposed further reductions to tariffs for large scale PV. In the impact assessment for the most recent consultation:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
	we estimated that under the ‘no change' scenario and central growth rates, the impact on the average domestic energy bill would be around £26 in 2020 (2010 prices undiscounted).
	We have revised this estimate in the light of much higher observed growth in PV since the impact assessment to around £40 (2010 prices, undiscounted) in a central uptake scenario, and around £80 (2010 prices, undiscounted) in a high uptake scenario. It should be noted that these estimates represent the impact on bills of both large and small scale PV installations, as we have not separated their respective impacts.
	Estimates of future PV growth are extremely uncertain. DECC is continually reviewing its evidence in the light of latest data, and will update estimates for the final impact assessment.

Energy Company Obligation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to data-sharing between the Government and energy suppliers as a means of identifying and targeting households to be assisted by his proposed Energy Company Obligation.

Gregory Barker: Regulation 5 of the Disclosure of State Pension Credit Information (Warm Home Discount) Regulations 2011, allows data to be shared between Government and energy supply companies participating in the Warm Home Discount Scheme in order to provide low income pensioners with a discount off their electricity bill and to provide relevant assistance to those vulnerable pensioners. This assistance can include targeting the delivery of ECO Affordable Warmth measures.
	As part of the Green Deal proposals, the Government are consulting on a referrals mechanism under which interested households that may be eligible for assistance under the Affordable Warmth obligation and contact the remote advice service would be channelled through to the participating energy suppliers.

Energy: Private Rented Housing

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to provide any additional financial support to private sector tenants whose landlords have carried out the maximum package of measures funded under the Green Deal or Energy Company Obligation, but continue to be classified as being in fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: The consultation on the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation is currently under way.
	The Warm Home Discount scheme requires energy suppliers to provide low income vulnerable households with discounts on their electricity bills. Through the scheme pensioners, including those in rented accommodation, who pay their own electricity bill with a participating energy supply company, and meet the eligibility criteria outlined as follows, may be eligible for the discount.
	
		
			 Scheme year Eligibility £ 
			 2011-12 In receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only (i.e. no savings credit) 120 
			    
			 2012-13 In receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only 130 
			  80 and over and in receipt of both pension credit guarantee credit and savings credit.  
			    
			 2013-14 In receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only 135 
			  75 and over and in receipt of both pension credit guarantee credit and savings credit  
			    
			 2014-15 All in receipt of pension credit guarantee credit (only those in receipt of savings credit only are excluded) 140 
		
	
	Other low income vulnerable households may also be assisted through the scheme. The scheme will be worth £1.1 billion up to 2014-15 and overall we expect 2 million low income vulnerable households a year to be assisted through the Warm Home Discount scheme.

Energy: Tariffs

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that energy customers can switch from pre-pay tariffs to quarterly tariff payments where they are cheaper.

Charles Hendry: Ofgem is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply, including the rules that govern switching payment methods. Prepayment meter customers who are not in debt may switch payment method or supplier at anytime. For those in debt, prepayment meters can be a valuable alternative to disconnection.
	New rules introduced by Ofgem in 2009 to prevent unfair price differentials, such as those between different payment methods, have shown that prepayment meter customers now pay, on average, £20 less than standard credit customers for their gas and electricity.

Energy: Tariffs

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of people who are prevented from leaving pre-pay energy tariffs because their energy supplier will not allow them to switch payment method.

Charles Hendry: Ofgem is responsible for monitoring and publishing information about prepayment meter customers. During 2010, 5,652 prepayment meter customers who were not in debt had their request for credit terms refused by their electricity or gas supplier. Ofgem is following this up.

Energy: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what support he is providing for renewable energy schemes in Welsh waters.

Charles Hendry: Renewable energy schemes in Welsh waters are eligible for support under the renewables obligation (RO). The RO is currently the Government's main mechanism for incentivising the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity in England and Wales. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), on behalf of the UK Government, is currently consulting in England and Wales on subsidy levels for the period 2013 to 2017. The public consultation proposes an increase in the rate of support for wave and tidal stream technologies, from two to five renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) per megawatt hour of renewable electricity generated, and a higher rate of support for offshore wind projects (two ROCs in 2014-15, reducing to 1.8 ROCs in 2016-17) than would be the case without the current banding review. The public consultation closes on 12 January 2012. A copy of the consultation proposals is available on DECC's website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_ro_review/cons_ro_review.aspx
	DECC has recently announced up to £30 million for innovation in offshore wind technologies, and up to £20 million for marine energy, subject to final value for money assessments. These will be UK wide calls and Welsh projects will be eligible to apply.

Green Deal Scheme

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether people who incorporate microgeneration in their Green Deal packages can participate in the (a) Renewable Heat Incentive and (b) Feed-in Tariff schemes.

Gregory Barker: We have designed the Green Deal as a long term framework to support cost-effective energy efficiency measures, including microgeneration. However, at present these measures are less cost effective than other measures, such as insulation, so we are supporting them through the Feed-in Tariff (FITs) and planned Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) instead.
	Microgeneration measures can be recommended in an assessment and installed at the same time as a Green Deal, but if the FIT or RHI are claimed then these cannot be included in a Green Deal financing plan.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change over what period the funding allocated to incentivise take-up of the Green Deal will be provided.

Gregory Barker: The funding is allocated as £30 million over financial year 2012-13 and £170 million over financial year 2013-14.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which body will be responsible for delivering the funding to incentivise take-up of the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: I am currently considering options for how best to use the new and additional funds announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official  Report, columns 799-810. As such, I have not yet taken a decision on who will deliver these funds.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from which budget he plans to fund incentives to householders to take up the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: As announced in the Autumn Statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, £200 million of capital funds have been allocated to DECC to support and incentivise Green Deal take-up. These funds are a time-limited addition to DECC's departmental expenditure limit settlement.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the £200 million funding that he has recently announced to incentivise take-up of the Green Deal, what type of incentives he plans to offer.

Gregory Barker: I am considering options for how to use the new and additional funds announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, and will provide further details in due course. These are capital funds, so will be used to directly incentivise the installation of energy efficiency improvements. I therefore want the funds to be used in a way that proves effective at driving take-up while offering value for money to the public purse.

Japan Tobacco International

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: Information about hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published quarterly by Departments. Information for the period 13 May 2010 to 30 June 2011 can be accessed on departmental websites. Information for 1 July onwards will be published in due course.

Renewable Energy

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the aim of generating 30 per cent. of domestic electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Gregory Barker: The UK has a binding target under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009 to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources across the electricity, heat and transport sectors by 2020. We envisage that in order to meet this target we will need to deliver 30% of our electricity from renewable sources in 2020.
	In 2011 quarter 2, renewable electricity generation (excluding non-biodegradable wastes) contributed 9.3% of total UK electricity generation—an increase of 3.2 percentage points on the share in 2010 Q2, and the highest quarterly share yet(1).
	(1) Source:
	Energy Trends online table 7.1
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=Statistics/source/renewables/et7_1.xls&minwidth=true

CABINET OFFICE

Cybercrime

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether there are network security measures similar to those used by the armed forces in place to protect (a) businesses and (b) individual internet users from cyber infrastructure attacks.

Francis Maude: The Government have a wide ranging set of measures in place to protect the UK against cyber attacks. Our new national Cyber Security Strategy published in November:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cyber-security-strategy
	sets out our plans for how we will work with industry to improve the UK's cyber security and build confidence by creating a more secure and resilient cyberspace.
	The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) provides advice on electronic and cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure (CNI), including public utilities companies and financial centres. This advice includes measures relating to network security.
	The Cyber Security Strategy set out some of the ways CPNI is working to increase its reach beyond this network to companies not ordinarily considered to be part of the CNI.
	There are also a number of measures in place to protect individual internet users. Internet service providers (ISPs) offer free security software, security information and advice to customers, and the Government have committed to work closely with ISPs to better embed security awareness and software within their services.
	The Government also support Get Safe Online, a joint Government/industry initiative to raise awareness of internet security.
	The majority of threats can be avoided by following some simple measures, and via Get Safe Online we will continue to work to raise awareness and to educate and empower people and firms to protect themselves online.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which information is available;
	(2)  how much the Downing street estate spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	The Cabinet Office has incurred expenditure during the last financial year in relation to food and catering services. However, this expenditure is not identified separately on the Department's financial systems and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Databases

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, columns 679-80W, on Government Departments: databases, and with reference to the Autumn Statement, what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the economy of the Open Data project.

Francis Maude: The Autumn Statement given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, included a number of measures developed by the Transparency Team in the Cabinet Office, with the Treasury and other Departments, designed to boost investment in medical research and digital technology in the UK, including many small and medium sized enterprises.
	These measures should improve medical knowledge and practice with world-first linked-data services which will enable health care impacts to be tracked across the entire health service. In addition, commitments were also made to release data related to planned and real-time information on the running of trains and buses across Great Britain and data on almost every road in Britain. Measures will also empower patients through individual access to their personal GP records online and encourage the market for education data management and learning platforms.
	The Government also established a Data Strategy Board and a Public Data Group that will maximise the value of the data from the Met Office, Ordnance Survey, the Land Registry and Companies House. It will make available for free a range of core reference datasets from these bodies to support the development of high-value data businesses.
	In view of the commercial and social priority of open data, the Government are to commit up to £10 million over five years with match funding from industry and academic centres to support an Open Data Institute through the Technology Strategy Board. Further details on these measures can be found at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/open-data-measures-autumn-statement-2011

New Business: East of England

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new businesses have been established in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and (c) the east of England in each month since May 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many new businesses have been established in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and (c) the East of England in each month since May 2010.
	Monthly statistics on business start ups are not available. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	The following table contains the latest statistics available, which give the number of enterprise births in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and (c) the East of England in 2010.
	
		
			 Count of enterprise birth in 2010 in the east of England, Essex and Witham 
			  Number 
			 East of England 22,580 
			 Essex 5,875 
			 Witham 380

Third Sector: North-west England

Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many charities were established in the North West in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission's chief executive to reply.
	Letter from Sam Younger, dated 19 December 2011
	.
	The number of charities whose area of operation was within the North West of England (as defined by the Office for National Statistics) that were newly registered during each calendar year was as follows.
	
		
			 Registered in: Charities 
			 2008 435 
			 2009 516 
			 2010 486 
		
	
	There may be additional charities, such as those with an income of less than £5,000 per annum, which are not required to register and for which information is not available.
	I hope this information is helpful.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Climate Change: International Co-operation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Advocacy Fund provided to developing countries' negotiators at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban.

Andrew Mitchell: The Advocacy Fund provided technical, legal and logistical support to developing country negotiators at the UN conference in Durban. This included:
	Support to the Least Developed Countries Group to co-ordinate, to access technical support on key negotiation issues and to send delegates to cover important issues.
	Training to support younger negotiators from developing countries to fully participate and develop their skills in the negotiations.
	Provision of legal advice and legal briefing on negotiation issues to developing country negotiators.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which country offices used his Department's guidance note on education for children with disabilities as part of their planning for aid to the education sector during his Department's bilateral aid review.

Stephen O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to the inclusion of disabled people in development. To this end, we are supporting countries to develop realistic plans for programmes that ensure everyone has access to education, including children with disabilities. DFID's guidance note on inclusive education for all children with disabilities in developing countries, published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies, was provided to all our country offices to support their education sector appraisals in the bilateral aid review.
	We do not specifically monitor the use of policy guidance by individual country advisers. All of our country offices are currently producing business cases setting out the details of their education support. These will contain more specific programming information than the operational plans that cover all sectors. All business cases are published on the DFID website at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	when they are approved.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the use by country offices of his Department's guidance note on education for children with disabilities in their planning under the bilateral aid review.

Stephen O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to the inclusion of disabled people in development.
	The Department for International Development's (DFID) guidance note on inclusive education for all children with disabilities in developing countries, was published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies. The note offers practical suggestions on supporting children with disabilities to access education and learn effectively and is available on the DFID website. DFID does not specifically monitor the use of policy guidance by individual country advisers. However, we are supporting countries to develop realistic plans for programmes that ensure everyone has access to education, including children with disabilities.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training and support his Department (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide to enable country offices to effectively implement his Department's guidance note on education for children with disabilities.

Stephen O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to ensuring the inclusion of disabled people in development. The guidance note on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries was developed with practitioners and experts in this field and was published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies.
	Our guidance on disability assists with practical suggestions on how country offices can work with Governments and non-government organisations on how policies and programmes can support access to education for children with disabilities and to learn effectively. This guidance is among a range of policy guidance made specifically available on an internal website set up to support country offices with their business case planning. All education advisers are offered support with continuous professional development and training in a multitude of areas of education and development, which include how to support children with disabilities.

Developing Countries: Water

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he plans to announce the outcomes of his Department's review of support for water and sanitation programmes; and if he will ensure the review will set out his Department's plans to tackle water and sanitation related diarrhoeal diseases.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently reviewing its work on water and sanitation to see how we can achieve even more results and better value for money. This includes looking at the effectiveness of programmes in improving health outcomes.
	The results of this exercise will be available early in 2012.

Developing Countries: Water

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to increase the number of countries where his Department has water and sanitation programmes.

Stephen O'Brien: As previously announced, the Department for International Development (DFID) will fund five new major bilateral programmes on water and sanitation in Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe) in the coming year.
	Any additional commitments will be dependant on the results of the ongoing review of DFID's water and sanitation programme.

Developing Countries: Water

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has plans for water and sanitation programmes in Pakistan.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have plans to provide direct support for water and sanitation programmes in Pakistan.
	However, UK aid to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Balochistan will help community-based organisations improve local services and infrastructure, including water and sanitation, up to 2015.

Developing Countries: Water

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's bilateral aid funding will be spent on (a) water and sanitation, (b) health and (c) education in 2011-12.

Stephen O'Brien: Details of the Department for International Development (DFID) bilateral aid expenditure by sector is published in Statistics on International Development (SID) which is available online at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	The figures for 2011-12 are not yet available, but the results we intend to achieve are set out in the operational plans available on our website. The latest available figures are as follows:
	
		
			 Sector Total DFID bilateral programme (£ million) Share of total DFID bilateral programme (%) 
			 Water and sanitation 112.1 2.6 
			 Health 830.1 19.5 
			 Education 560.9 13.2 
			 Total DFID bilateral programme 4,253.7 —

Developing Countries: Water

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will attend the Sanitation and Water for All High Level Meeting on 20 April 2012 for the purpose of addressing the lack of political priority given to sanitation in many developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the work of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership to increase accountability of both developing countries and donors for delivering results on the ground.
	DFID recognises that it will be important to have a strong UK presence at the next high-level meeting in April 2012 and the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), intends to be there.

Drugs: Patents

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with UK-based pharmaceutical companies to encourage their participation in the medicine patent pool.

Stephen O'Brien: The UK Government supported the establishment of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) through our contributions to UNITAID. The UK has a constant dialogue with pharmaceutical companies, like Gilead Sciences, a member of the MPP, through the members of the Industry-government Forum on Access to Medicines. Gilead Sciences, who has joined the Patent Pool, is also a member. There is more information on our website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/igfam
	We are also aware of and encourage continuing discussions directly between pharmaceutical companies and the Medicines Patent Pool.

Kidnapping

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials in his Department have been kidnapped whilst on official business overseas in each of the last 10 years.

Andrew Mitchell: Two Department for International Development (DFID) officials posted to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were kidnapped in 2007. They were released after being held 12 days. There have been no other kidnappings in the last 10 years.

Nigeria: Overseas Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on his Department's aid contribution to Nigeria; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: Despite producing oil, Nigeria is not a rich country. Its total economy is one-twentieth the size of the UK's economy, with many more people. Over 100 million Nigerians live on less than £1 a day. A peaceful, more democratic and prosperous Nigeria, meeting the basic needs of its citizens, is possible within a generation and the Department for International Development (DFID) remains committed to supporting this.
	As outlined in the DFID Operational Plan for Nigeria, which was published in May 2011, between 2011 and 2015 DFID will focus on promoting democracy, wealth creation and the delivery of basic services. We will work with the Nigerian Government to spend their own money more effectively. No UK aid will go through Government budgets, so as to protect against corruption and avoid substituting Nigerian public resources.

Nigeria: Overseas Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial assistance his Department has given to Nigeria in each of the last 10 years.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided the following bilateral aid to Nigeria since financial year 2002-03 (the earliest year in which data are available from the Statistics on International Development (SID)):
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2002-03 29 
			 2003-04 31 
			 2004-05 47 
			 2005-06 78 
			 2006-07 81 
			 2007-08 85 
			 2008-09 110 
			 2009-10 114 
			 2010-11 142

Nigeria: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development programmes funded by his Department aim at promoting democracy in Nigeria.

Andrew Mitchell: In Nigeria, our support to promote democracy is channelled through the “Deepening Democracy in Nigeria programme”. The programme spans the period 2010-15. In partnership with the US Government and the United Nations Development Programme, we support Parliament, civil society, the election commission and political parties. There is a particular focus on getting more women to take part in the electoral process.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) was instrumental in enabling Nigerians to have their first ever credible elections in April 2011. At a cost of 33p per voter, we helped the election commission register 73 million voters in 2010. Towards the next elections in 2015, we are working to strengthen the election commission's ability to manage elections, improve Parliament's ability to hold the executive to account and support civil society to demand greater accountability from elected leaders.

South Sudan: Equality

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development programmes funded by his Department aim at promoting equality in South Sudan.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK recognises the critical importance of work to promote equality as a key foundation for peace and development in South Sudan. We look for opportunities to promote equality across the range of our programmes as well as through specific targeted support. Examples of programmes that will promote equality include a planned five-year Girls Education programme which will help to tackle the barriers that prevent girls from going to school and support 150,000 girls through primary school. In the health sector, in addition to our support for primary health care we plan to help strengthen reproductive health care, so that 21,000 women are able to deliver with the help of a trained birth attendant. We are also starting to design a programme which will help to improve access to justice for 250,000 women.

Turkey: Earthquakes

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on the recent earthquake in that country.

Andrew Mitchell: In response to a specific request from the Turkish Government I agreed to provide 1,144 protective winter tents to house 5,500 people who were without shelter. The Turkish Government have not made any further requests. The UK Government will continue to monitor the situation in the affected region.

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work her Department is undertaking into developing biofuels from non-feedstock sources.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 December 2011
	All biofuels are made from feedstocks. Suitable feedstocks for biofuel production include agricultural crops, wastes, residues, ligno-cellulosic and non-food cellulosic materials.
	From 15 December 2011, all biofuel feedstocks must meet certain sustainability criteria, as set out in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 (as amended), in order to count towards the UK’s renewable transport fuel obligation.

Biofuels

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the change in the amount of biofuels which will be needed for transport fuel in order to meet the requirement of the renewable energy directive for 10% of transport fuel to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The renewable energy directive (RED) contains a target for the UK to source 10% of energy used in transport from renewable sources by 2020. The contribution of biofuels made from wastes, residues, non-food cellulosic material and ligno-celluiosic material will count twice towards this target.
	Given uncertainties over the sustainability of all biofuels and the best deployment across sectors we have not, at this stage, amended the renewable transport fuel obligation biofuel supply targets. The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) is obliged under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2011 to come forward with proposals for measures to ensure delivery of the transport requirements of the RED for the period 2014 to 2020 at a later date.

Biofuels: Imports

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on the amount of biofuel imported from overseas in each of the last 10 years; which countries such biofuels were imported from; and if she will estimate the effect on carbon emissions levels of the use of imported biofuel in each such year.

Norman Baker: Details of the country of origin of feedstocks for biofuels and associated greenhouse gas savings are available from the introduction of the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) in 2008.
	This information is available in the RTFO Administrator's reports to Parliament for 2008-09 and 2009-10 can be found online at:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/other/9780108508868/9780108508868.pdf
	and
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/other/9780108509681/9780108509681.pdf
	Further detail can be found in the RTFO Administrator's reports on the supply of biofuel to the UK, available online at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110407094507/http://www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk/sites/rfa/files/_documents/RFA_verified_report_RTFO_year_one.pdf
	and here:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110407094507/http://www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk/sites/rfa/files/24_RFA_verified_report_RTFO_year_two_v1.0.0_0.pdf
	Provisional data for 2010-11 can be found online here:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/biofuels_april_2011/rtfoaug2011.pdf
	and a verified report will be published in the new year.

British Transport Police Authority

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the British Transport police authority in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the British Transport police authority in 2010-11 was 10 and in 2011-12 to date is 9.5.

Bus Services: Local Government

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what recent progress she has made in encouraging joint working between bus operators and local authorities.

Norman Baker: On 8 December I announced the £50 million Better Bus Area Fund, with the explicit intention of encouraging local authorities to work in partnership with bus operators to help grow the economy and cut carbon. This fund complements the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, 35 of the 39 successful bids for Tranche 1 of which contained bus-related elements.
	I have already witnessed good examples of joint working on bus services, including in Bristol and Oxford, and I continue to urge operators and local authorities to come together to better serve the needs of local bus passengers.

Buses: Exhaust Emissions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the potential effect on carbon emission levels of the Green Bus Fund in each year of the fund's operation.

Norman Baker: The Department estimates that the earlier two rounds of the Green Bus Fund, which will see around 540 low carbon buses operating in England by March 2012, will save around 12,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
	The third round of the Green Bus Fund is expected to help fund more than 200 low carbon emission buses which will save around 5,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Departmental Communications

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) her Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each non-departmental public body sponsored by her Department on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed on communications activities on 30 September 2011 is provided in the following table. The NDPB figures requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost due to this information not being held centrally.
	
		
			  (i)  DFT  central (ii)  DFT  agencies 
			 (a) Press office 14 21.6 
			 (b) Internal communications 4.8 17.7 
			 (c) External communications 10.1 27.4 
			 (d) Communications strategy 8.5 17.8 
			 (e) Other communicators 16.5 16.1 
		
	
	This is a 24% reduction in the full-time equivalent number of communicators from 2009-10.

Departmental Equality

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps her Department has taken to increase equality among its staff.

Norman Baker: In 2009 the Department developed a three-year equality action plan. This is reviewed annually. The plan reflects the civil service strategy for promoting equality and valuing diversity, and comprises the four themes of: behaviour and culture change; leadership and accountability; talent management; representation. The action plan can be found at:
	http://www2.dft.gov.uk/about/diversity/talent1/diversitystratplan.pdf
	The Single Equality Duty arising from the Equality Act 2010 led to a review of equality outcomes, and in particular the equality data which we are required to publish. As a public authority the Department must have equality objectives in place by April 2012, and we are currently consulting stakeholders to that end. These broad objectives will reflect our strategic direction up to 2016.
	Currently the Department supports staff networks for race, gender, disability and sexual orientation who are supported by and have regular meetings with senior management. Each of the Directors General is a Champion for a particular strand of diversity and the Permanent Secretary is the overall Diversity Champion. Equality issues are considered by the top management team, which reflects the importance the Department places on this topic.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were working in her Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011.

Norman Baker: On 11 May 2010, there were 19,198 employees working in the central Department and its seven Executive agencies. On 8 December 2011, there were 17,799 working in the central Department and its seven Executive agencies.
	Of this total, there were 2,017 employees working in the central Department on 11 May 2010 and there were 1,696 employees working in the central Department on 8 December 2011.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 13 December 2011, Official Report, column 98WS, on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), what work her Department has carried out to ensure that services currently offered by regional DVLA offices will remain accessible to communities.

Michael Penning: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has investigated a range of options on alternative delivery channels for all services currently offered by DVLA regional offices. Decisions about which solutions will be taken forward will not be made until the results of the consultation exercise are available and agreed. Members of the public and communities are encouraged to make their views known through the consultation process.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Manpower

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in each regional office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Michael Penning: The following table states how many full-time equivalent employees are employed in each regional office.
	
		
			 Location Total 
			 Aberdeen 8.6 
			 Bangor 11.8 
			 Beverley 13.7 
			 Birmingham 44.1 
			 Borehamwood 29.5 
			 Bournemouth 51.9 
			 Brighton 16.2 
			 Bristol 20.3 
			 Cardiff 31.4 
			 Carlisle 9.8 
			 Chelmsford 45.5 
			 Chester 16.0 
			 Dundee 10.7 
			 Edinburgh 23.4 
			 Exeter 32.6 
			 Glasgow 62.7 
			 Inverness 8.0 
			 Ipswich 14.1 
			 Leeds 47.6 
			 Lincoln 15.1 
			 Maidstone 26.0 
			 Manchester 60.4 
			 Newcastle 41.2 
			 Northampton 48.1 
			 Norwich 14.1 
			 Nottingham 45.9 
			 Oxford 8.6 
			 Peterborough 22.8 
			 Portsmouth 19.4 
			 Preston 54.2 
		
	
	
		
			 Reading 19.2 
			 Sheffield 22.6 
			 Shrewsbury 17.0 
			 Sidcup 76.1 
			 Stockton 18.7 
			 Swansea 26.0 
			 Truro 11.8 
			 Wimbledon 33.8 
			 Worcester lo 21.0 
			 Grand total 1,099.9

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Redundancy

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 13 December 2011, Official Report, column 98WS, on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), what steps her Department plans to take to assist staff at regional DVLA offices to find alternative employment following implementation of the proposed transformation programme for the Agency.

Michael Penning: No decisions about closure have yet been made. If, following the consultation, a decision is made to close the local offices then the Department will seek to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible. Among the options we will explore include redeploying staff to other offices across the civil service; voluntary redundancy and job swaps with staff working elsewhere in the civil service who wish to leave under voluntary redundancy terms.

Driving Under Influence

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the relative standards of professional conduct of providers of drink-drive rehabilitation courses in (a) single provider and (b) multi-provider areas.

Michael Penning: The Driving Standards Agency’s audits have shown that the current quality of drink-driver rehabilitation courses is variable with some providers failing to follow the guidance on running courses. The audits did not highlight any difference between the professional conduct of course providers when comparing single with multiple provider areas.

Driving Under Influence: Convictions

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking with the Ministry of Justice in respect of the sharing of data on drink-driving convictions between the police, courts and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Michael Penning: My review of court notifications to the DVLA identified inconsistent and missing alcohol levels for some drink driving convictions. Immediate changes to IT systems and working practices have been put in place to address the problem. The DVLA, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office continue to work together to obtain missing alcohol level data to ensure that anyone regarded as a high risk offender undergoes the necessary medical assessment.

Electric Vehicles

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what progress she has made in mandating a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Norman Baker: Through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, we are working to establish a national recharging network, primarily by part funding the installation of recharging points delivered by the Plugged-In Places schemes.
	Our strategy to deliver the necessary infrastructure is set out in “Making the Connection: the Plug-In Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy”, published in June 2011, a copy of which is available in the House Libraries. I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer to the right hon. Member for Warley (Mr Spellar), on 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 649W.

Graham Hook

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) correspondence and (b) meetings (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in her Department had with Graham Hook during his employment with Interel Consulting UK.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), had one meeting with Graham Hook prior to his appointment as a special adviser. The special adviser to the previous Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), also met Graham Hook on a small number of occasions, and corresponded once. No other correspondence or meetings took place during his employment with Interel Consulting UK.

Great Western Railway Line: Electrification

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings Ministers and officials in her Department have had with Ministers and officials in the Welsh Government to discuss electrification of the Great Western Main Line since 1 March 2011; and on what dates.

Theresa Villiers: Departmental officials have had meetings on this subject with their colleagues from the Welsh Government on four occasions—on 14 September 2011 and 17 October 2011 in London and on the 24 November 2011 in Cardiff. Electrification was an agenda item at the High Level Forum between the DFT and Welsh Government Permanent Secretaries on 16 November 2011.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Midlands

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has received route proposals from High Speed 2 Ltd for the legs from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester; and if she will lay such proposals in the Library.

Justine Greening: Subject to my decisions on high speed rail in January 2012, HS2 Ltd will submit its advice on route and station options for Leeds, Manchester and Heathrow in March 2012. The Government will consider this advice before announcing our response later in 2012.

Large Goods Vehicles

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 260W, on large goods vehicles, which independent contractor will be monitoring the longer semi-trailers and heavy goods vehicles study.

Michael Penning: The Department has appointed Risk Solutions as the independent monitor for the high volume semi trailers trial.

Large Goods Vehicles: Fees and Charges

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what recent progress she has made in introducing a system of HGV road user charging.

Michael Penning: We are developing proposals for a scheme of HGV road user charging and intend to consult in the new year.

Level Crossings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many user worked railway crossings are in use; and how many have (a) closed and (b) been converted to automatic barriers in the last 20 years.

Theresa Villiers: This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Management of level crossings is an operational matter for the relevant railway infrastructure manager, which for the majority of Britain’s railway system is Network Rail. As part of their safety management system, Network Rail assess risks at level crossings and consider whether closure or upgrading of protection is appropriate.

Level Crossings: Accidents

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) road traffic accidents and (b) fatalities have been reported at user worked railway crossings in the last 10 years.

Theresa Villiers: This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Safety Statistics for Railways are available on the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) website at:
	www.rssb.co.uk
	In addition, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), as the independent health and safety regulator of Britain’s railways, reports annually on safety performance, including at level crossings. The hon. Member may wish to contact the ORR for further information at the following address:
	Office of Rail Regulation
	One Kemble Street
	London
	WC2B 4AN

Members: Correspondence

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to respond to the letters of (a) 19 July 2011, (b) 13 September 2011 and (c) 2 November 2011 from the hon. Member for Weaver Vale on behalf of WSD Lamb of Tall Security Print Ltd.

Theresa Villiers: I replied to my hon. Friend on 20 December 2011 in connection with his letters on behalf of WSD Lamb of Tall Security Print Ltd, with my apologies for the delay.

Network Rail

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with Network Rail about further redoubling of the Oxford to Hereford railway line.

Theresa Villiers: There have been no recent discussions. The rail industry considers that the recently completed 20 miles of track redoubling on the Oxford to Evesham section of the Hereford route provides the performance improvements which are the highest priority. It has not proposed forward further redoubling for consideration in its investment plan for 2014 to 2019.

Network Rail

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what progress she has made in increasing the accountability of Network Rail to its customers.

Theresa Villiers: The Government are committed to increasing the accountability of Network Rail and will publish a strategy for reform in the rail industry early in 2012.

Office of Rail Regulation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what progress she has made in reforming the Office of Rail Regulation to better represent the interests of passengers.

Theresa Villiers: The Government and the Office of Rail Regulation will shortly consult on the scope and case for transferring certain powers and functions relating to the protection of passenger interests from the Department for Transport to the regulator.

Railways: Fares

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has any plans to use the consumer prices index as a measure for the change in regulated rail fares in future.

Theresa Villiers: We have no plans to use the consumer prices index as a replacement for the retail prices index in the cap on regulated fares.

Railways: Information Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if her Department will take steps to encourage train companies to improve their communication with passengers on (a) overcrowding and (b) delays; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department supports the extensive programme of work being undertaken by the rail industry to improve passenger information during disruption. The issue is regularly discussed at meetings between Ministers and senior industry figures.
	In addition, we welcome the Office of Rail Regulation’s announcement of its intention to make adequate passenger communication a licence condition for train operating companies.

Railways: Overcrowding

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to reduce overcrowding on (a) commuter trains and (b) railway platforms in cities; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The Government have a programme to deliver additional rail carriages, addressing concerns about overcrowding. Network Rail is funded to enlarge many platforms and stations as part of this programme. Over the last year we have signed five agreements with train operators to deliver extra peak capacity for the cities of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. This capacity is now being delivered.

Railways: Snow and Ice

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the ability of the major train operators to minimise disruption caused by bad weather; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: I meet regularly with senior industry representatives to review performance issues, and these discussions include the industry's preparedness to minimise disruption caused by severe weather. This includes ensuring that its plans take account of the lessons learnt from the last two winters and other weather-related incidents. The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has also recently visited a rail depot in Tonbridge to see some of the winter preparations that the rail industry is putting in place.
	Train operators have put in place extensive contingency and resilience plans to overcome weather disruption problems, including improved passenger communication strategies; development of additional contingency timetables for service operations under different weather scenarios; and a range of modifications to train fleets to improve resilience and address problems previously encountered. In addition, Network Rail has implemented a programme of measures including installation of heating elements to the third rail at key locations and expansion of its fleet of snow clearance and ice treatment trains.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many suppliers received renewable transport fuel certificates in each year since their introduction; and how many litres of biofuel each supplier produced in those years.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 December 2011
	In the year that the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) was introduced, 2008-09, 53 suppliers received renewable transport fuel certificates and 1,283 million litres of biofuel was supplied for road transport. In 2009-10, those figures were 52 suppliers and 1,568 million litres of fuel. Provisional figures for 2010-11 suggest that 1,440 million litres of biofuel were supplied by 45 companies.
	It should be noted that the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 (as amended) includes a requirement to exclude volumes of relevant hydrocarbon oil or renewable transport fuel which has been notified by a particular supplier to the administrator, with the clear purpose of protecting commercial confidentiality. We consider information regarding the volume of fuel supplied by individual suppliers to be commercially sensitive.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of renewable transport fuel her Department estimates will come from (a) biofuels, (b) electrically powered surface transport and (c) other renewable sources in each year between 2011 and 2020.

Norman Baker: Renewable transport fuel includes biofuels such as bioethanol, biodiesel and biomethane as well as other renewable fuels such as renewable hydrogen. Electrically powered surface transport is a mode of transport, not a fuel. However, use of renewable electricity in road vehicles can be counted towards renewable energy targets.
	The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) level is currently 4% for 2011-12 and increases by 0.5% each year until it reaches 5% in 2013-14. This obligation is met through the supply of biofuel.
	Given uncertainties over the sustainability of all biofuels and the best deployment across sectors we have not, at this stage, amended the RTFO biofuel supply targets to increase beyond the 5% target that will be required from 2013-14. The Secretary of State for Transport is obliged under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2011 to come forward with proposals for measures to ensure delivery of the transport requirements of the renewable energy directive for the period 2014 to 2020 at a later date.

Rescue Services: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the implications for Northern Ireland of the planned changes to the search and rescue helicopter service.

Michael Penning: Northern Ireland will still be covered by helicopters based on the UK mainland and Scottish Islands, as at present. Incidents will continue to be responded to within the agreed national response requirements.
	The UK tasking authority will continue to work with other nations' tasking authorities, including the Republic of Ireland, to provide assistance when it is required. This is in line with existing international agreements.

Roads: Safety

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what progress she has made in bringing forward proposals to promote road safety.

Michael Penning: By transferring the road safety grant to the revenue support grant, we have given local authorities greater flexibility to implement the local transport and road safety measures they and their local communities consider are needed. Most local authorities have published information about speed cameras, to improve transparency, following a Government announcement in June 2011.
	We are switching to more effective ways of making our roads safer, having published a strategic framework for road safety in May 2011. This includes action to enable better enforcement against careless and drunk drivers, improvements to education and more training.
	The authorisation of drug screening technology depends on the type approval of individual devices by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. This is given only following operational and laboratory tests of the devices against the type approval specification. Operational tests have been completed. New arrangements are required for the laboratory tests and the Home Office is putting these into place as quickly as technically possible.

Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rolling stock her Department plans to cascade from the Thameslink project to other parts of the rail network; on what dates such cascades will occur; and what changes in capacity will arise from each such cascade.

Theresa Villiers: The redeployment of rolling stock freed up by new trains introduced as part of the Thameslink Programme is dependent on a number of factors, including the exact timings of electrification programmes and future negotiations between train operators and rolling stock leasing companies. Approximately 400 existing vehicles are expected to be available for redeployment in the period from 2015 to 2018.

Severn River Crossing: Tolls

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with Welsh Government Ministers on the Severn crossing tolls.

Michael Penning: Ministers have had no discussions with their Welsh counterparts on tolls at the Severn crossing.

Shipping: Training

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes her Department has proposed to the General Approach on a Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum level of training of seafarers changes.

Michael Penning: Following the publication of the proposed directive in September, the UK was an active participant in the Council working group convened to examine the text.
	As a result of our negotiations we secured amendments to the text to address our concerns relating to the provisions on data transfer, the timeline for transposition and the role of member states in future decision-making.
	Having secured these improvements, the UK was able to agree to the proposal presented for a General Approach at Transport Council on 12 December.

Siemens

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Thameslink rolling stock contract, what recent assessment she has made of Siemens plc's credit rating; and whether her Department holds information on Siemens plc's credit rating in each month since June 2011. [R]

Theresa Villiers: The Department has relied on publically available information from Moody's and Standard and Poor's.
	Moody's Investors Service has assigned Siemens plc an A1 credit rating since November 2007. Standard and Poor's has assigned them an A+ credit rating since June 2009.

Sikhs

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will have discussions with the Sikh Council UK and Sikh Federation (UK) on policy matters relating to the Sikh community.

Theresa Villiers: My Department regularly engages with many different organisations on policy matters and consults with bodies representing the faith communities where there are relevant issues.

Transport: EU Action

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals her Department has made to the European Commission on the draft Regulation amending Regulation 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and regulation 561/2006.

Michael Penning: The Department has not made proposals to the European Commission on the draft regulation. However the Department has been active in negotiations on the dossier, which began in September 2011. At the Transport Council on 12 December a partial general approach was agreed.

Transport: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan 2011, what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion are for the (i) Coventry-Nuneaton rail upgrade, (ii) Chester Road (Birmingham), (iii) Cambourne-Poole-Redruth transport package, (iv) Beverly integrated transport plan and (v) Bath transportation package.

Norman Baker: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Scheme Planned total public expenditure (£ million) Estimated completion date 
			 Coventry-Nuneaton rail upgrade 18.6 December 2013 
			 Chester Road (Birmingham) 10.3 December 2014 
			 Camborne-Poole-Redruth transport package 26.0 October 2014 
			 Beverley integrated transport plan 27.3 December 2014 
			 Bath Transportation package 28.2 October 2014 
		
	
	The total public expenditure figures include the planned contributions from the Department for Transport, the local authority promoters and any other public sector bodies.
	Funding for these schemes was announced on 14 December 2011. Details of these and the other local authority major transport schemes announced on the same day are available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-major-transport-scheme-decisions
	Scheme costs on the published table may include private sector contributions and therefore may not match the above figures.

Transport: Policy

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what progress she has made in reforming the way decisions are made on which transport projects to prioritise.

Justine Greening: My predecessor as Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), laid a written ministerial statement in the House on 27 April 2011 reporting the conclusions of the Department's decision making review. This set out reforms to the way transport projects are assessed, and funding prioritisation decisions are made, so that the benefits of low carbon proposals are fully recognised. The Department now uses the five case model to inform decision-making, which assesses projects' strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management cases.

Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what recent progress she has made in supporting sustainable travel initiatives.

Norman Baker: On 5 July 2011, I announced that the Department was awarding £155.5 million through the £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund to support authorities in delivering local economic growth while cutting carbon emissions from transport. 39 projects, to be delivered by 37 local authorities, have been awarded funding for 2011-15 (all projects are for £5 million or less). Successful projects include a variety of measures such as smart ticketing, the promotion of infrastructure for electric vehicles, bus and rail improvement measures along with infrastructure improvements for cycling and walking, including £11 million for Bikeability training, and the promotion of car clubs.
	On 3 August 2011, the Department shortlisted 13 authorities to prepare a detailed business case for a Large Project proposal (of between £5 million and £50 million) to be submitted to the Department by 20 December 2011. By 24 February 2012, the Department will receive 55 further bids for small projects. We will announce decisions on all these proposed projects in early summer 2012.
	Recently, the Department has also announced an extra £90 million of funding for buses, including the £50 million Better Bus Areas initiative, an extra £10 million for Community Transport, £20 million for the Green Bus Fund and £10 million to make London buses greener.
	A full list of decisions to date is available on the DFT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-sustainable-transport-fund-guidance-on-the-application-process

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

West Lothian Question

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to establish a commission to consider the West Lothian question.

Mark Harper: I updated the House on progress on this issue by written ministerial statement on 8 September 2011, Official Report, column 27WS. Since then we have been in consultation with the House authorities on how the commission can best address the relevant issues on the business and procedures of this House on how the commission can best address this issue. It is my intention for the commission to commence its work in February 2012 to report by the end of the next Session, in spring 2013. I will make a further statement on the detail of the commission in the new year.

House of Lords Reform

Gary Streeter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent progress he has made on reforming the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent progress he has made on reforming the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer the Deputy Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Southport (John Pugh), at oral questions earlier today.

Electoral Register

Bob Blackman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Mark Harper: The Government have funded the Electoral Commission to carry out research into the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register. The commission’s report, which was published last week, was the first of its kind in over a decade. It showed that as of April 2011, the register was around 85% accurate, and as of December 2010, was 85% to 87% complete, with around 6 million electors missing from the register.
	These findings show that now more than ever it is important that we take steps to improve registration as part of the move to individual registration, including looking at how we can most effectively reach those groups most likely to be missing from the register and modernise the electoral registration system.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, column 532W, on electoral register, whether meetings in an official capacity could have taken place that were not recorded.

Mark Harper: Details of all Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis. Information for the period 13 May 2010 to 30 June 2011 can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations-april-june

Statutory Register of Lobbyists

Grahame Morris: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to bring forward proposals for a statutory register of lobbyists.

Mark Harper: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson), at oral questions earlier today.

Cost of Elections

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) elections for police and crime commissioners, (b) referendums for elected mayors and (c) the work of the Boundary Commission.

Mark Harper: The Government currently estimates that the cost of:
	elections for police and crime commissioners in November 2012 will be up to £75 million;
	the cost of referendums for elected mayors will be £2.5 million; and
	the costs to the four Boundary Commissions of undertaking a boundary review under the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 is £11.9 million.

Lobbying

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had on the definition of lobbying.

Mark Harper: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Sir Alan Haselhurst), at oral questions earlier today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government have made representations to the Russian Government about reports of waste being disposed into the sea off the Scottish coast by the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made representations to the Russian Government about this issue. However, the HMS York contacted the Russian aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, anchored outside British territorial waters, to ask that no further waste be disposed into the sea. The Admiral Kuznetsov agreed with this request.

Anguilla: Politics and Government

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in respect of changing of the financial and economic permanent secretaries in Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: The Chief Minister of Anguilla and his team raised this issue with me during my meeting with him on 22 November 2011. This was also raised during the Overseas Territories Consultative Council from 23-24 November. The Department has received questions about this from the UK Representative for Anguilla and a number of other persons including members of this House.
	Responsibility for ensuring that the Anguilla Public Service is appropriately staffed and run has been delegated by the Governor to the Deputy Governor, who is the most senior member of the Public Service. The British Government have no direct responsibility for making Anguillan Public Service appointments.
	The transfer of portfolios among permanent secretaries is good practice and helps to ensure that they remain independent and are able to offer non-partisan advice. In the current case, I understand that the Chief Minister, the Executive Council and the Anguilla Public Service Commission were consulted about the proposed changes. Appointment decisions take into account individuals' skills and experience and the wider need to develop as leaders and strategic thinkers.
	The Governor of Anguilla and the Chief Minister are in contact on this issue.

Anguilla: Politics and Government

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons are for changing the financial and economic permanent secretaries in Anguilla.

Henry Bellingham: I refer the hon. Member to the Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Howell of Guildford's answer of 11 August 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA 454, to the noble Lord Jones of Cheltenham. I also wrote to the hon. Lady on 22 August this year in response to her e-mail of 22 July answering her questions on this issue.

Belarus: Human Rights

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the human rights situation in Belarus.

David Lidington: There have been no further releases of political prisoners since 1 October and the eight who remain reportedly suffer serious mistreatment. The UK is particularly concerned about the health and welfare of Dmitrii Bondarenko, Zmitser Dashkevich, Andrei Sannikov and Mikolai Statkevich. I released a press statement on 24 November expressing my concern about the sentencing to more than four years imprisonment of respected human rights defender Ales Bialiatski. in a tax evasion trial that international observers described as politically motivated.
	Separately, on 30 November, a Minsk court sentenced Dzmitry Kanavalaw and Uladzislaw Kavalyow to death for carrying out the bombing of the Minsk Metro in April 2011. Again, international observers have raised doubts over the standard of evidence and conduct of the trial. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Permanent Under-Secretary of State summoned the Belarusian ambassador on 12 December about this case; the British ambassador also raised it formally in Minsk on 9 December.
	Recent legislative changes have strengthened the role of the secret police and further restricted freedom of assembly. Individuals can now face a jail sentence for receiving financial assistance from overseas and the definition of treason, a capital offence, has also been dramatically widened. Senior officials have expressed the UK's deep concern about this to the Belarusian ambassador and I released a press statement on 19 October.
	The UK will continue to press for real and lasting democratic reform in Belarus including the release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners. We will also push the EU to do more, particularly on sanctions.

Congo: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what observers the UK sent to the recent elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Henry Bellingham: To ensure that the elections were monitored appropriately, we worked with internationally-recognised monitoring experts in the EU and the Carter Center to ensure that a high-quality network of observers was in the country before, during and after the election. There were five British participants in the EU observation mission plus 18 British participants in the European Network for Central Africa (EURAC) mission. Two of the participants in the EURAC mission are members of the Great Lakes All Party Parliamentary Group: the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) and Lord McConnell. We also funded a UK elections expert from Electoral Reform International Services to accompany the Southern African Development Community non-government organisation mission. Finally, the British embassy in Kinshasa fielded a team of 12 accredited observers.

Congo: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK has made to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the conduct of recent elections in that country.

Henry Bellingham: In the run up to and throughout the election process, we have engaged closely with the Democratic Republic of Congo authorities on the conduct of the elections.
	In my 9 December 2011 statement, I said that I remained concerned by the reports of irregularities both in the run up to and throughout the process.
	The British ambassador in Kinshasa has lobbied Prime Minister Muzito, advisers to President Kabila, the Secretary General of the majority People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy party, and Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante President Mulunda, to stress the need for a credible investigation into the presidential results process, urgent measures to improve the legislative elections results process (which is now under way, with results due on 13 January) and for lessons to be learned before the provincial elections, due in 2012. We have also stressed that the Supreme Court needs to be visibly neutral through the elections process.

Croatia: Elections

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of alleged election fraud in the recent Croatian election.

David Lidington: We followed the Croatia elections closely. Some four or five appeals were lodged but subsequently dismissed by the Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observer mission declared the elections democratic, and made no reference to election fraud in their conclusions. While the mission recommended technical improvements to the electoral process, acknowledged by the head of the Croatian Electoral Commission, the leader of the ODIHR mission saw no evidence in the elections to suggest that Croatia was not ready to join the EU.

Croatia: Elections

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions with Council of Europe election monitors on alleged irregularities in the recent Croatian elections.

David Lidington: The Council of Europe did not send an observer mission to Croatia during the recent elections. However, international observers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observer mission as well as local non-governmental organisations reported that the elections were democratic. There was no reference to election fraud in the conclusions of the ODIHR mission and no appeals have been launched against the result.

Croatia: EU Enlargement

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of Croatia's readiness to join the EU.

David Lidington: On the basis of the clear progress already achieved by Croatia, backed up by the safeguards and additional pre-accession monitoring arrangements we secured in the final weeks of negotiations, the UK agreed the closure of accession negotiations on 30 June. Since then Croatia has continued to make progress in implementing the necessary reforms. The 5 December General Affairs Council and the 9 December European Council endorsed the Commission's assessment in its 12 October Progress Report on Croatia and the updated monitoring tables submitted to the Council on 28 October, that Croatia has reached a high level of preparedness for membership, and continues to make substantial progress in all areas. We expect Croatia to continue this momentum and to be in full alignment with the acquis before joining the EU in July 2013.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office cannot separate out the cost of food purchased through its UK food and catering services from other elements of the service or from wider official hospitality expenses without incurring disproportionate cost.
	It would also incur disproportionate cost to source the data from our network of 260 overseas posts as this information is held locally.

Departmental Manpower

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's UK-based staff are serving in overseas postings; and how many of them have completed the extensive level language qualification which is linked to additional remuneration.

Henry Bellingham: holding answer 15 December 2011
	Of our approximately 1,900 UK-based staff currently serving overseas, approximately 110 have a speaker requirement at extensive level, with approximately 580 more having a speaker requirement at other levels. The requirement for most extensive slots overseas is for officers to arrive in post with operational level skills, and then reach extensive after a period of time at post. As of 15 December 2011, approximately 40 staff are currently in receipt of allowances for having qualifications at extensive level. Other staff in extensive speaker slot positions will become eligible for these allowances during their postings when they have successfully taken the extensive exam, or once they have re-qualified if their exam pass date was more than five years ago.

Departmental Press Releases

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 457W, on departmental press releases, what assessment he has made of whether the provision of detailed extracts from his 16 November 2011 speech to the media for reporting prior to its delivery conferred any benefit to the (a) Government and (b) public interest which would not have been conferred by reporting the speech after its delivery.

David Lidington: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The provision of extracts proved beneficial because it gave the media, and therefore the public, more time to consider the issues raised in the speech.

Embassies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomatic posts his Department has (a) opened and (b) closed in the last five years; and whether it plans to open any posts in 2012.

David Lidington: In his statement to the House on 11 May 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), set out the Government's commitment not to close any sovereign UK posts overseas in the lifetime of the current Parliament; to retain all 140 existing British embassies and High Commissions, and to open up to six new embassies and seven new Consulates General. This is part of a drive to expand and strengthen Britain's diplomatic network, particularly in the fastest growing parts of the world.
	No embassies have therefore been closed since May 2010. We have opened a new embassy in Juba, South Sudan. We have upgraded the UK's representation in Cote d'Ivoire to a full embassy. A fully accredited ambassador will take up position in spring 2012. We have opened a new consulate in Recife, Brazil. In 2012 we plan to open new embassies in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; San Salvador, El Salvador and, when local circumstances permit, Madagascar and Somalia. The upgrading of the trade office in Calgary to a full British Consulate General in 2012 has also been announced.
	This expansion of the diplomatic network is being funded by withdrawing diplomatic staff from some subordinate posts in Europe, while retaining UK Trade and Investment and consular staff in many cases and not closing any sovereign posts. Since May 2010, the British Consulates in Lille, France; Venice and Florence, Italy have closed. Other savings will also be found as we reduce over time our diplomatic footprint in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	Between 2006 and May 2010, six embassies and High Commission offices and eight British Consulate Generals and Consulates were closed. Details are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Period Country Post name Status Closed 
			 2004-05 Cameroon Douala BC 1 
			 2004-05 Portugal Oporto BC 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2005-06 Lesotho Maseru BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Madagascar Antananarivo Embassy 1 
			 2005-06 Swaziland Mbabane BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Cote d'lvoire Abidjan Embassy 1 
			 2005-06 Bahamas Nassau BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Paraguay Asuncion Embassy 1 
			 2005-06 USA Dallas BC 1 
			 2005-06 USA San Juan (Puerto Rico) BC 1 
			 2005-06 Japan Fukuoka BC 1 
			 2005-06 Vanuatu Port Vila BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Germany Frankfurt BCG 1 
			 2005-06 Germany Stuttgart BCG 1 
			 2005-06 Yemen Aden BCG 1 
			 2005 Kiribati Tarawa BHC 1 
			 2005-06 Tonga Nuku'alofa BHC 1 
			 2005 Haiti Port au Prince BCG 1 
			 2006-07 Australia Adelaide BC 1 
			 2006-07 East Timor Dili Embassy 1 
			 2006-07 Germany Hamburg BCG 1 
			 2006-07 Sweden Gothenberg BCG 1 
			 2006-07 USA Seattle BC 1 
			 2011 Italy Venice BCG — 
			 2010 Switzerland Geneva BCG — 
		
	
	In 2007, three High Commission offices (Kingstown. St Vincent and the Grenadines) and the Consulate in Nagoya, Japan were closed.
	In 2008, two High Commission offices (St John's, Antigua and St George's, Grenada) were closed.
	The Consulate General in Lille closed in August 2011.

Embassies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which overseas countries no representative of the Government is in residence.

David Lidington: While some embassies and high commissions are responsible for countries where there is no British representation, British Missions are not accredited. Heads of Mission, ambassadors and high commissioners are accredited. A number of Heads of Missions hold the title of Her Majesty's Non-Resident Ambassador/High Commissioner. A full list is provided.
	
		
			 Country/territory Location Head of Mission resident in: 
			 Andorra Andorra La Vella Madrid, Spain 
			 Antigua and Barbuda St John's Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Bahamas Nassau Kingston, Jamaica 
			 Benin Porto-Novo Accra, Ghana 
			 Bhutan Thimphu New Delhi, India 
			 Burkina Faso Ouagadougou Accra, Ghana 
			 Burundi Bujumbura Kigali, Rwanda 
			 Cape Verde Praia Dakar, Senegal 
			 Central African Republic Bangui Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Chad N'Djamena Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Comoros Moroni Port Louis, Mauritius 
			 Congo (republic of) Brazzaville Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo 
			 Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Accra, Ghana 
			 Djibouti Djibouti Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
		
	
	
		
			 Dominica, Commonwealth of Roseau Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 El Salvador San Salvador Guatemala City, Guatemala 
			 Equatorial Guinea Malabo Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Gabon Libreville Yaoundé, Cameroon 
			 Grenada Saint George's Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Guinea Bissau Bissau Dakar, Senegal 
			 Haiti Port au Prince Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 
			 Holy See — British Embassy to the Holy See, located in Rome 
			 Honduras Tegucigalpa Guatemala City, Guatemala 
			 Kiribati Tarawa Suva, Fiji 
			 Laos Vientiane Bangkok, Thailand 
			 Lesotho Maseru Pretoria, South Africa 
			 Liberia Monrovia Freetown, Sierra Leone 
			 Liechtenstein Vaduz Berne, Switzerland 
			 Madagascar Antananarivo Port Louis 
			 Maldives Male Colombo, Sri Lanka 
			 Marshall Islands Majuro Manila, the Philippines 
			 Mauritania Nouakchott Rabat, Morocco 
			 Micronesia, Federated States of Palikir Manila, the Philippines 
			 Monaco Monaco Paris, France 
			 Nauru Yaren Suva, Fiji 
			 Nicaragua Managua San Jose, Costa Rica 
			 Niger Niamey Bamako, Mali 
			 Palau Melekeok Manila, the Philippines 
			 Paraguay Asuncion Buenos Aires, Argentina 
			 Saint Kitts and Nevis Basseterre Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Saint Lucia Castries Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Kingstown Bridgetown, Barbados 
			 Samoa Apia Wellington, New Zealand 
			 San Marino San Marino Rome, Italy 
			 São Tomé and Principe São Tomé Luanda, Angola 
			 Somalia Mogadishu Nairobi, Kenya 
			 Suriname Paramaribo Georgetown, Guyana 
			 Swaziland Mbabane Pretoria, South Africa 
			 Timor-Leste Dili Jakarta, Indonesia 
			 Togo Lome Accra, Ghana 
			 Tonga Nuku’alofa Suva, Fiji 
			 Tuvalu Funafuti Suva, Fiji 
			 Vanuatu Port-Vila Suva, Fiji

EU Accession

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what regard the Government will have to meeting the Copenhagen criteria when determining their policy on future applications for membership of the EU; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Copenhagen criteria rightly remain at the heart of the EU enlargement process. Any European country which meets the criteria should be eligible to join. The 5 December General Affairs Council and 9 December European Council conclusions reaffirmed the principle that a country's progress against these criteria should dictate the pace of the enlargement process.

EU Accession

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the accession to the EU of (a) Iceland, (b) the Republic of Serbia, (c) Croatia, (d) Montenegro, (e) the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, (f) Albania, (g) Bosnia-Herzegovina and (h)  Turkey.

David Lidington: The Government are a strong supporter of EU enlargement which helps create stability, security and prosperity across Europe. Any European country that wishes to join the EU and meets the necessary criteria should be able to do so. Croatia, Iceland, Montenegro, Macedonia and Turkey are candidate countries. Croatia is the furthest advanced candidate country and, following signature of its Accession Treaty, is expected to join the EU on 1 July 2013. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are pre-candidate countries. The UK is committed to the future of all the countries of the Western Balkans, Turkey and Iceland being in the EU, once the necessary conditions have been met. The Government believe that further EU enlargement depends on countries meeting the fair and rigorous accession criteria. Each case will be treated on its own merits.

Iran: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings his Department has had with the Government of Iran; and what was discussed.

Alistair Burt: I summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires on 30 November 2011 to express outrage at the invasion of our embassy compounds in Tehran and to notify him that all Iranian diplomats were to be expelled from the UK and the Iranian embassy closed. Since then there has been only one meeting between the Iranian Representative to the International Maritime Organisation in London and officials of the FCO's Protocol Directorate to discuss administrative arrangements for the closed Iranian embassy.
	We have not severed diplomatic relations with Iran and will maintain a minimal dialogue over issues of concern such as Iran's nuclear programme and its human rights record.

Japan Tobacco International

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010.

David Lidington: Details of hospitality in respect of Ministers and special advisers are published quarterly on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/transparency-and-data1/hospitality/

Russia: Politics and Government

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Russia on the conduct of recent elections in that country; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: As I made clear in my statement of 6 December, we have concerns about alleged violations in the Duma elections and have highlighted the need for a rapid and transparent investigation. We note President Medvedev's undertaking to do so. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the conduct of the elections with Foreign Minister Lavrov on 7 December. I also raised this issue with the Russian ambassador in a meeting on 14 December.
	As the Prime Minister said in Moscow in September, strengthening the rule of law and democracy is essential to Russia's stability and prosperity. That must include open and fair elections and protecting the right to peaceful protest.

Shaker Aamer

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 606W, on Shaker Aamer, when Mr Aamer's case was last raised at official level with the US authorities; and when he next plans to raise it at (a) official and (b) Ministerial level.

Alistair Burt: Since the answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 606W, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has again raised Mr Aamer's case with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit to Washington on 12 December. UK and US officials hold regular discussions on Mr Aamer's case, both in London and from the British embassy in Washington, most recently on 6 December. As stated in the previous answer, the Government remains committed to securing Mr Aamer's release and return to the UK and, again, we will continue to raise his case with the United States Government at both official and ministerial levels when appropriate opportunities arise. Nevertheless, it is important to be clear that his release remains a decision for the United States Government to make.

Syria: Asylum

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on (a) the number of Syrian refugees arriving in Turkey and (b) provisions being made for such refugees; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: According to the Turkish Government, the highest number of refugees recorded reached 20,000 in June. The Turkish Government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have now reported that there are 8,400 refugees remaining.
	The UNHCR and Turkish Red Crescent provide tents, sleeping mats, hot meals and education (with Arabic curriculum play areas) and medical care.

Syria: Human Rights

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Syria on human rights issues in that country.

Alistair Burt: We make clear in our contacts with the Syrian regime our deep concerns about ongoing human rights abuses in Syria.
	We continue to raise human rights in Syria internationally including through the EU. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) welcomed the strong action taken by the UN Human Rights Council at an unprecedented third Special Session on the human rights situation in Syria, which supports the Arab League's efforts to end the bloodshed in Syria and established a special rapporteur to ensure that independent monitoring of the situation continues. The Foreign Secretary said that we will continue to do all we can to bring an immediate end to the violence.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many adults aged 24 years and over who took a Level 3 or higher qualification went on to attend university in each of the last three years.

David Willetts: holding answer 13 December 2011
	The Department does not hold information on adults aged 24 years and over who took a Level 3 or higher qualification and then went on to attend university. Information on the level of highest qualification held on entry to higher education is shown in the following table, for English-domiciled entrants aged 24 or over to UK higher education institutions. Figures are provided for the academic years 2007/08 to 2009/10. Information for the 2010/11 academic year will become available from January 2012.
	
		
			 English-domiciled entrants (1)  aged 24 or over by level of highest qualification on entry. UK higher education institutions, academic years 2007/08 to 2009/10 
			  Academic year 
			 Level of highest qualification on entry 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Level 4 or above(2) 230,250 260,080 270,355 
			 Level 3(3) 54,430 58,675 63,325 
			 Total level 3 or above 284,680 318,755 333,675 
			 Other(4) 50,390 51,720 44,950 
			 Total with known highest qualification on entry 335,075 370,475 378,625 
			 (1) Covers entrants to full-time and part-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses. (2) Covers postgraduate, undergraduate and professional qualifications, foundation courses at higher education level and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) at Level 4 or above. (3) Covers A Levels, International Baccalaureate, Ordinary National Diploma/Certificates, higher education access courses, foundation courses at further education level and NVQs at level 3. (4) Covers Level 2 qualifications and below, accredited prior learning, advanced modern apprenticeships and no formal qualifications. Note: Figures in this table are on a HESA Standard Registration Population (SRP) basis and are rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Billing

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the (a) efficacy and (b) applicability to the UK of limiting payment periods between companies to 60 days as required by the French loi de modernisation de l'économie 2008.

Mark Prisk: This Government have made clear their objective of challenging the long-standing culture of late payment, which persists across all sectors of the economy and across businesses of all sizes, and we have supported a multi-faceted strategy for improving business cash flow alongside the UK's leading business and finance organisations.
	We continue to monitor payment across the economy and will not rule out any measures which have the support of the business community in the UK. However, there has been long-standing and widespread opposition from UK business to Government intervention in contractual freedoms, including on payment terms. I understand that the French legislation allows sectors to apply for exemption and that this has been utilised by a large number of sectors.
	The recast EU directive on combating late payment in commercial transactions provides a standard for payment terms in that
	“member states shall ensure that the period for payment fixed in the contract does not exceed 60 calendar days, unless otherwise expressly agreed in the contract and provided it is not grossly unfair to the creditor.”
	As part of the process for transposing the recast directive, we will be consulting with those affected on this point and other potential changes to current UK legislation. The recast directive is largely based upon existing UK legislation and experience.

Billing

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received from (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) suppliers on (i) the introduction of 60 day maximum payment terms between companies and (ii) mandatory disclosure of average payment terms.

Mark Prisk: There has been long-standing and widespread opposition from UK business to Government intervention on contractual freedoms of this nature and it remains the case that the best means of ensuring prompt payment is to agree terms in advance of supply. Evidence suggests that over half of UK transactions take place with no pre-agreed terms and that only one in 10 suppliers regularly credit checks customers.
	Government are supporting business to manage cash flow by ensuring they pay their own bills on time, by encouraging big business to pay according to agreed terms through the prompt payment code at:
	www.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/
	and by supporting businesses to better manage customer relationships through the Institute of Credit Management’s Managing Cash Flow Guides at:
	www.creditmanagement.org.uk/bisguides.htm
	There have been over 250,000 downloads of the Managing Cash Flow Guides to date.
	On 10 November, Government launched a Finance Fitness campaign to increase business awareness of the advice and information available to them from both Government and private sector providers. The campaign will focus upon managing cash to end January 2012, on choosing and accessing finance in February 2012 and on finance for growth in March 2012.

Business

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage multi-national manufacturers to make long-term investments in the UK.

Mark Prisk: UK Trade and Investment works closely with BIS to champion UK strength and sophistication in manufacturing to global investors, providing tailored support to business. In 2010/11 the UK attracted 1,434 foreign direct investment projects, of which 210 (15%) were manufacturing projects. The Government's Plan for Growth sets out actions to improve the business environment for UK-based manufacturers, and to encourage new inward investment. Business support measures on tax, planning and regulation build investor confidence, making the UK a more attractive destination for overseas manufacturers.

Business: Government Assistance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his letter to all hon. Members of 6 December 2011 on the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, 
	(1)  whether new entrants to supply chains will be eligible for funding; and what steps his Department plans to take to assess the eligibility of such firms;
	(2)  what steps his Department will take to discuss the initiative with potential applicants; how he plans to identify such firms; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his policy is on clawback of monies granted where criteria are not met;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the (a) initial dialogue with relevant firms and sectors, (b) assessment of bids and (c) monitoring of successful bids; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  whether firms can successfully apply for funding without approval from (a) local economic partnerships and (b) local authorities.

Mark Prisk: The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative aims to help existing UK supply chains grow and achieve world class standards while encouraging major new suppliers to come and manufacture here. The new fund will support innovative projects in established UK advanced manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, automotive and chemicals. It will also target newer growth areas where the UK is well placed to take a global lead, such as energy renewables and other low carbon sectors. The competitive fund will invite applications early in the new year. Further information on criteria, funding and other arrangements concerning the initiative will also be available early in the new year.

Business: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to assist small and medium-sized businesses to retain skills in the west midlands.

John Hayes: One of the most effective ways of encouraging skill retention in businesses is to ensure that the skills system responds more dynamically to their needs and brings greater value to their businesses from more productive employees.
	Apprenticeships represent real jobs and are at the heart of the skills system we are building. Provisional figures for 2010/11 show that total apprenticeship starts in the west midlands increased by around two-thirds on 2009/10. We are not only expanding apprenticeships but improving their quality and making it easier for businesses of all sizes to recruit apprentices. Our research shows that apprenticeships help employers improve productivity and give them a competitive edge.
	The Government announced recently that we will be offering up to 40,000 new incentive payments of £1,500 to small employers who take on and retain their first young apprentice. At the same time, we are reducing bureaucracy involved for small firms and working to ensure that the National Apprenticeship Service and training providers deliver a better service to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
	In addition, we fund a leadership and management programme for senior leaders of SMEs to help them develop their own personal leadership and management skills so they are better able to create a high performing, innovative workplace and to improve the skills of their work force. We are also providing co-funding for level 2 learning for employees of small firms, and the new Business Coaching for Growth Programme will help SMEs to overcome the barriers they face in achieving growth potential.

Competition Commission: Manpower

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff the Competition Commission (a) employed in 2010-11 and (b) plans to employ in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: Figures supplied to BIS by the Competition Commission (CC) in December 2011 record that the CC employed a total current work force of 122 individuals equating to 119 FTE.
	For 2010-11, at the financial year end, the figures were 123 or 121.6 FTE respectively.

Competition: EU Law

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effect of EU Directives and Regulations on the competitiveness of UK business.

Edward Davey: The Government assess the impact of EU legislation on the UK, both when submitting explanatory memoranda on new proposals to Parliament, and when transposing EU legislation into UK law. This includes the cost to UK business and, in particular, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and micro-businesses.
	The Government have also adopted ‘Guiding Principles for EU legislation’, which set out that when transposing EU legislation, the Government will endeavour to ensure that UK businesses are not put at a competitive disadvantage compared with their European counterparts.

Copyright: Arts

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 449W, on copyright: arts, what consideration he has given to raising the threshold at which the levy is triggered to minimise the effect of the Directive on the art market.

Edward Davey: The threshold at which Artist's Resale Right becomes payable in the UK was set at €1,000 by the previous Administration. Suggestions have been made from time to time that the threshold should be changed but I have seen no compelling evidence that justifies any such change, either in terms of the impact on the art market or on artists.

Food Procurement

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: During the period December 2010 to November 2011 the Department spent £645,062 on hospitality (which includes food and drink) with the Department’s catering services contractor BaxterStorey. This compares with £1,203,977 and £872,214 in the previous two 12 month periods.

Departmental Redundancy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of redundancies from the civil service arising from the closure of (a) the London Development Agency and (b) the North West Regional Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Neither London Development Agency (LDA) nor North West Development Agency (NWDA) staff are civil servants. The LDA has only two officers falling within the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS). The vast majority of NWDA staff are covered by the CSCS. The cost of redundancies at LDA and NWDA will depend on the number of staff resigning, transferring elsewhere in the public sector or leaving for other reasons, prior to closure, but is estimated not to exceed £135,000 and £7,500,000 respectively.

Directors: Disqualification

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people disqualified under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 breached the terms of their disqualification order in each year since 2002.

Edward Davey: The details required to answer this question are not held centrally in a readily accessible form and the information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	The number of separate convictions secured by the Department for criminal offences under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (CDDA) for the financial year 2001/02 onwards are set out in the following table. Convictions under the CCDA may relate to an offence arising by reason of bankruptcy or a disqualification order, and an individual may be charged with more than one of these offences in a single case. Convictions by other prosecution authorities are not included.
	
		
			  Number 
			 2000/01 65 
			 2001/02 86 
			 2002/03 74 
			 2003/04 43 
			 2004/05 38 
			 2005/06 41 
			 2006/07 40 
			 2007/08 52 
			 2008/09 32 
			 2009/10 35 
			 2010/11 34

Higher Education: Fees and Charges

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the long-term financial sustainability of institutions charging tuition fees below £7,500; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is under a legal duty to consider the financial health of those institutions it funds. Where an institution is identified as at high risk, HEFCE will act to prioritise the interests of students and safeguard public money.
	HEFCE’s internal assurance service is responsible for monitoring financial dealings with institutions and their overall financial health. It undertakes audit work in institutions and assesses institutional risk. Where appropriate, HEFCE provides intensive expert support and financial assistance.
	However, as HE institutions are autonomous, should one mismanage its affairs, the Government cannot offer a guarantee of protection.
	Institutions are free within the parameters set by Government to determine their own fees in line with their own business models.

Higher Education: Fees and Charges

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department’s proposed changes to the further education fee structure on the number of people enrolling in higher education courses in 2013-14.

David Willetts: 2013-14 is the first financial year in which further education (FE) loans will be available, for those studying in the 2013/14 academic year, so it is unlikely that there will be any impact on HE course enrolment for the same (2013/14) academic year.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will publish both a full impact assessment of FE loans and an equality impact assessment of FE loans in March 2012.
	Both impact assessments will be informed by research and analysis commissioned by BIS. This will include the results of an online learner panel survey carried out by Opinion Panel, as well as TNS-BMRB work with potential FE students to understand how FE loans might affect their decision to study, and further research as required.

Higher Education: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2011, Official Report, column 516W, on higher education: finance, how many (a) doctoral, (b) taught Masters and (c) research Masters postgraduate degree course places in each subject area were funded by (i) the Higher Education Funding Council for England and (ii) other organisations in the public sector in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: holding answer 19 December 2011
	Information on the number of postgraduate taught (PGT) and postgraduate research (PGR) full-time equivalent students (FTEs) counted in the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) teaching and research funding methodologies for England are shown in Tables 1 and 2 as follows. The postgraduate taught figures are broken down into the following broad subject areas:
	(A) The clinical stages of medicine and dentistry courses and veterinary science.
	(B) Laboratory-based subjects (science, pre-clinical stages of medicine and dentistry, engineering and technology).
	(C) Subjects with a studio, laboratory or fieldwork element.
	(D) All other subjects
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of postgraduate taught (PGT) FTEs (English institutions) 
			  2010-11 FTEs 2011-12 Assumed FTEs 
			 Price group Mainstream Co-funded Mainstream Co-funded 
			 (A) 1,911.4 30.4 1,911.4 30.4 
			 (B) 10,918.2 137.0 10,891.5 188.0 
			 (C) 31,548.8 1,493.6 31,585.2 1,881.6 
			 (D) 34,072.7 795.4 34,073.1 956.6 
			 Total 78,451.2 2,456.4 78,461.2 3,056.6 
			 Sources: 1. 2010-11 FTEs (mainstream) taken from HESES/HEIFES10 2. 2010-11 FTEs (co-funded) taken from the 2010-11 monitoring return 3. 2011-12 Assumed FTEs taken from the October 2011-12 sector grant tables 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of postgraduate research (PGR) FTEs (English institutions) 
			 Subject area Eligible PGR FTEs in 2010-11 funding Eligible PGR FTEs in 2011-12 funding Difference Percentage difference 
			 Sciences (including medicine) 23,080 24,614 1,534 7 
			 Social sciences 9,101 9,976 875 10 
			 Arts and humanities 7,472 8,096 623 8 
			 Total England 39,654 42,686 3,032 8 
			 Source: Eligible PGR students in years 1 to 3 of full-time study (and part-time equivalent) taken from the 2009 and 2010 HEFCE Research Activity Surveys. 
		
	
	Table 3 as follows shows headcount figures on the number of taught masters, other masters, PhD and other doctoral studies places that were funded in 2010/11 and are expected to be funded in 2011/12 in the UK by Research Councils UK. The figures are broken down by research council.
	
		
			 Table 3: Number of headcount postgraduate places funded by RCUK (UK institutions) 
			  Taught masters Other masters PhD Other doctoral studies 
			  2010/11 2011/12 2010/11 2011/12 2010/11 2011/12 2010/11 2011/12 
			 AHRC — — 607 490 729 730 — — 
			 BBSRC — — 110 110 555 530 — — 
			 EPSRC — — — — 2,902 1,900 — — 
			 ESRC — — 6 6 730 660 — — 
			 MRC — — — — — — — — 
			 NERC — — 285 — 325 330 — — 
			 STFC — — — — 225 230 — — 
			 General notes: 1. The data do not take in to account any funds leveraged by higher education institutions to increase the total number of studentship places available. 2. Figures for 2011/12 are estimates and hence the actual numbers may vary from those given above. If universities choose to support part-time students and fees-only students, and/or match research council funding with that from other sources, then more students will be able to be supported; PhD students may also be supported by larger research grants from some councils. Notes on Medical Research Council (MRC) data : 1. All of the data presented above exclude studentships at MRC funded centres. In 2008/09 there were a total of 226 students undergoing doctoral training in MRC funded Centres. This figure includes existing and new students. The MRC does not have data available for any other years. 2. Data for 2010/11 and 2011/12 are not yet available. 3. The number of studentship places funded by the MRC is subject to annual review. At present MRC have no plans to significantly increase or decrease funding for PhD or Research Masters Studentships. Notes on Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) data: All masters students are included in “Other masters”. Separate figures are not available for Taught and Research masters. PhD studentship numbers or the last three years are estimates from data based on returns provided by awarded institutions. Notes on Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) data: EPSRC only supports masters-level training when it aligns with their broader strategy. For this reason, in 2009 they decided to focus most of their support in this area on activities which employ masters-level training as a means of developing highly skilled doctoral-level researchers, rather than those which view the provision of masters graduates as an end in itself. As a result, their current support for masters-level training is delivered via the Centres for Doctoral Training, Doctoral Training Accounts and some courses in Mathematical Sciences (eg Statistics). Not all of these routes provide students with a formal masters qualification so it would be difficult to be definitive about numbers over a specific period. Notes on Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) data: ESRC funds a mix of 3 year PhD and 1 year + 3 years masters + PhD awards. The total amount of these awards is included under section (c) PhD for the previous and next three years. ESRC are unable to disaggregate these figures further in the time available without use of disproportionate resources, however they estimate that 60% of the awards are of the 1 + 3 type. Under section (b) Other masters, they have included a strategic initiative where we fund standalone masters to build research capacity in demography. Notes on Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) data: NERC does not differentiate between MSc and MRes, so all places listed as other masters.

Higher Education: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness among UK universities and other higher education providers.

David Willetts: The Department is not itself undertaking specific activity to promote deaf awareness in higher education. However, we provide funding to both the Disability Alliance and the Equality Challenge Unit, independent organisations which alongside providing advice and guidance to higher education institutions also help raise awareness about a range of equality issues in the sector.
	Higher education institutions have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to support disabled students, including deaf students, when applying to higher education and when studying. The law establishes a framework of responsibility which higher education institutions must comply with and also promotes an anticipatory and proactive approach to supporting disabled students. Institutions are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students to ensure that they can fully participate in their education and enjoy the other benefits, facilities and services which are provided for students.
	The Government support disabled students in higher education through funding. We provide funding to higher education institutions, through the Higher Education Funding Council for England, to help them recruit and support disabled students; £13 million will be provided in academic year 2011/12.
	The Government also provide direct support to disabled students through disabled students’ allowances (DSAs). DSAs can help pay the extra costs a student may incur, because of a disability, when undertaking a course of higher education. DSAs are provided in addition to the standard student support package, are not income-assessed and do not have to be repaid.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ensure that prospective overseas students are not dissuaded from applying to UK universities by changes to the Tier 4 visa regime.

David Willetts: I have regular meetings and correspondence with the Minister for Immigration, my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), to discuss issues raised with me by the higher education sector relating to the Tier 4 visa regime.
	We have discussed the impact of proposals around maximum length of study, the removal of post-study work and during study work rights.
	We have also discussed how to ensure that the message is clear that the UK welcomes legitimate students. The purpose of the changes to the visa regime is to eliminate abuse within the system.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from each EU member state are studying at English universities in the 2011-12 academic year.

David Willetts: Information on the number of enrolments for European Union (EU) member state-domiciled students is shown in the table, for English higher education institutions. Figures are provided for the academic year 2009/10. Information for the 2010/11 academic year will become available from 12 January 2012.
	
		
			 European Union enrolments (1)  by country of domicile (2) , English higher education institutions, academic year 2009/10 
			 EU member state Enrolments 
			 Austria 1,285 
			 Belgium 2,395 
			 Bulgaria 2,885 
			 Cyprus 10,760 
			 Czech Republic 945 
			 Germany 11,960 
			 Denmark 1,305 
			 Estonia 800 
			 Spain (including Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla) 4,410 
			 Finland (including Aland Islands) 1,270 
			 France(3) 10,510 
			 Gibraltar 555 
			 Greece 10,170 
			 Hungary 920 
			 Ireland 8,320 
			 Italy (Inc Sardinia, Sicily) 5,750 
			 Lithuania 2,535 
			 Luxembourg 755 
			 Latvia 1,420 
			 Malta 805 
			 Netherlands 2,770 
			 Poland 6,145 
			 Portugal (Inc Madeira, Azores) 2,375 
			 Romania 2,835 
			 Sweden 2,630 
			 Slovenia 250 
			 Slovakia 1,190 
			 European Union, not otherwise specified 115 
			 Total 98,060 
			 (1) Covers entrants to full-time and part-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses. (2 )Country of domicile is the student's permanent or home address prior to entry to the course. (3 )Figures for France include Corsica, Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique and Reunion. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Investment: Environment Protection

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether UK Green Investment will be providing support for the Green Deal.

Mark Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 1024W.

Phoenix Companies

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies, declared bankrupt following convictions for fraud, have been resurrected as phoenix companies.

Edward Davey: The information requested is not recorded and as a consequence is not available.

Post Offices

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Post Office Locals in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland he expects will be located in (i) urban and (ii) rural areas.

Edward Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2011, Official Report, columns 1030-31W. The exact location of new Post Office Local branches is dependent on the suitability of the Local model to the location concerned, the views of existing sub-postmasters on how the model can assist their business going forward, and the requirement by Post Office Ltd to both maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches and to continue to comply with the strict access criteria whereby, for example, over 99% of the national population must be within three miles of a post office outlet.
	The Post Office Local model, which has been designed with the customer specifically in mind, is expected to be most suitable for those sub-post offices and retail premises that are typically found in urban, suburban and larger rural communities.

Regional Growth Fund: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) nationally have been awarded regional growth funding contracts; and how many have received capital to date.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 19 December 2011
	Four projects from Walton, 11 from Merseyside and 176 nationally were awarded conditional allocations from the Regional Growth Fund. In Merseyside two companies have recently signed final allocations and are under way. Monies for the projects are paid in arrears but will draw down resource in 2012. Claims for £95.5 million have been paid to companies and organisations through the Regional Growth Fund.

Senior Civil Servants: Engineering

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many members of his Department's senior management team have (a) an engineering qualification and (b) experience in the engineering industry.

David Willetts: At senior civil service (SCS) level in BIS we have six people with formal engineering qualifications. In addition we have another six with experience of working in the engineering industry. In total our SCS has 55 years of experience of working in the engineering industry.

Students: Loans

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average debt owed to the Student Loans Company by students graduating in (a) 2011, (b) 2010, (c) 2009, (d) 2008 and (e) 2007.

John Hayes: The average debt accumulated by borrowers who graduated (or otherwise left their course) in years 2007-10 is shown in the following table. Figures come from table 3(iii) of the Official Statistics: “Income Contingent repayments by repayment cohort and tax year 2000/01 to 2009/10 inclusive (provisional)” available on the Student Loans Company (SLC) website at:
	http://www.slc.co.uk/media/77960/SLCOSP022011.pdf
	
		
			 Graduation/withdrawal year Average amount of debt outstanding (£) 
			 2007 10,870 
			 2008 11,770 
			 2009 14,690 
			 2010 17,240 
			 Source: SLC 
		
	
	The figures above relate to the average outstanding debt at the beginning of the tax year when borrowers became liable to repay. Figures take into account repayments made, loans cancelled because of death or permanent disability and accrued interest in advance of the Statutory Repayment Due Date (SRDD).
	The latest forecast of the average debt at SRDD in April 2012 for 2011 graduates/withdrawals is £17,500, to the nearest £500. This figure is subject to change due to interest being added, early repayments being made and borrowers who are currently counted in later repayment cohorts withdrawing from their courses before April 2012.

EDUCATION

Academies Act 2010

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Academies Act 2010 on the provision of support services for schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 5 December 2011
	The provision of services to schools is a matter for local decision. Local authorities provide a variety of services to their schools and to academies. The pattern of service provision is constantly changing. We have made no specific assessment of the effect of the Academies Act 2010 in this respect.

Academies: School Meals

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that school dinners in schools with academy status conform to a programme of healthy eating.

Nick Gibb: Academy principals know that good food supports good behaviour and better concentration in school and will wish to provide healthy school dinners. There are no plans to ask academies to conform to a particular programme of healthy eating or the school food standards that apply to maintained schools, although the standards provide a benchmark of good practice. There is no evidence that academies provide a less healthy diet than other schools.
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has asked the School Food Trust to look at the approach academies are taking to providing healthy school food for their pupils; this will include a mixture of established and new academies.

Children: Abuse

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to record the number of children who experience neglect.

Tim Loughton: In England, national data are collected on the number of children who are assessed by children's social services as being children in need and the reasons why they are in need, including whether that is for abuse or neglect. Data are also collected on the number of children who are the subject of a child protection plan by category of abuse including a category for neglect.
	The Department has been working with a range of stakeholders and sector leaders to take forward the Government's response to Professor Munro's recommendation to have a revised suite of local and national performance information to drive improvements in children's safeguarding. This should give local authorities and central Government greater understanding of neglect and of other aspects of safeguarding children than is currently available through existing collections. The Department has now published the local children's safeguarding performance information that it agreed with the sector local areas should collect. The Department is planning to launch a full public consultation in January on the national children's safeguarding performance information recommended by Professor Eileen Munro.

Parliamentary Questions

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the guidance issued to civil servants in his Department responsible for drafting answers to Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: The Department issues Cabinet Office guidance on drafting answers to parliamentary questions to staff in the Department who are responsible for drafting answers, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. In addition, guidance is provided on ministerial preferences.

Departmental Pay

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any senior staff in (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 5 December 2011
	The Department, its executive agency (the Standards and Testing Agency) and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) do not make payments to individuals to a limited company in lieu of salary. All senior staff are directly employed, are paid through payroll and have deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions made at source.
	All payments for the Department, its agency and NDPBs follow the guidelines set out in the Civil Service Management Code:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/civil-service-management-code

Departmental Responsibilities

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure social value is included when services are commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: UK public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money, which means the optimum combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project. Public sector procurers are required to assess value for money from the perspective of the contracting authority using criteria linked to the subject matter of the contract, including compliance with the published specification.
	Wider socio-economic benefits that do not accrue to the contracting authority cannot be taken into account at tender evaluation stage if they do not relate to the subject matter of a contract from the point of view of the contracting authority.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 286W, on education maintenance allowance, if he will take steps to ensure that the independent evaluation considers the effects of the new arrangements for financial support for young people aged 16 to 19 on (a) recruitment, (b) attendance levels, (c) retention and (d) achievement of students post-16.

Nick Gibb: The three year independent evaluation will be supplemented by regular analyses of management information from providers in receipt of 16 to 19 Bursary funding. The evaluation will collect and analyse the characteristics of applicants and recipients of the bursaries to enable the Department to assess whether the fund is meeting the needs of young people (particularly those disproportionately less likely to participate post-16). It will also consider the perceived impact of the bursaries and examine providers’ decision-making processes when awarding bursaries; and inform reviews of allocation criteria during subsequent years of the programme.

Education: Assessments

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to consolidating the examination boards into a single organisation.

Nick Gibb: The Government are clear that any practices which undermine the integrity of the examinations system are unacceptable.
	Following the recent investigations by T he Daily Telegraph into the conduct of awarding body examiners, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), asked Ofqual to conduct an urgent investigation into the specific allegations. The scope of Ofqual's investigation will examine every aspect of awarding bodies' conduct which gives rise to concern.
	The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual's chief executive, Glenys Stacey, to report back before Christmas with her conclusions and recommendations for further action. No option, including the future landscape of awarding bodies, is off the table.

Educational Visits: Accidents

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many incidents requiring hospitalisation there were involving children on school trips and expeditions in the UK in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is not held centrally by the Department. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collects data on injuries reported and defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 and provides the following information:
	
		
			 Reported non-fatal injuries (1)  to pupils/students (2)  in primary and secondary education (3) , 2009/10 and 2010/11 (4) 
			 Work process (5) 2009/10 2010/11 (4) Total 
			 0813—Research irrespective of industry, type and location, includes e.g sociological research — 2 2 
			 0815—Swimming pool activities 29 26 55 
			 0818—Water Sports, boating, motor, boat, mooring at marinas 1 1 2 
			 0820—Go-Karting 1  1 
			 0821—Horse riding and equestrian sports (not horse training/breeding) 8 9 17 
			 0822––Adventure Activity and Education field studies 12 15 27 
			 Total 51 53 104 
			 (1) Injuries are reported and defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. Unless engaged in work experience or work placements, school pupils are classed as ‘members of the public'. Under RIDDOR there are two categories of severity of injury for members of the public: fatal injuries and non-fatal injuries that cause a person to be taken from the site of the accident to hospital. On the basis of the criteria selected there were no fatal injuries reported in 2009/10 or in 2010/11. (2) Identified by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2000 Unit Group 0002 ‘Student’. (3) Identified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007 classes 85.10 ‘Pre-primary education’, 85.20 ‘Primary education’, 85.30 ‘General secondary education’ and 85.32 ‘Technical and vocational secondary education’. (4 )Provisional. (5) Specific codes from Work Process Group 08 ‘Education, Training, Research and Recreation/Sporting Activities’—HSE accident coding classification.

Educational Visits: Risk Assessment

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to simplify the process of undertaking risk assessments for learning outside the classroom.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education published revised and reduced health and safety guidance for schools on 2 July 2011. The guidance summarises how the existing health and safety law affects schools, local authorities, governing bodies, and staff—particularly in relation to school trips and risk assessments.
	The advice clarifies that school employers should always take a common sense and proportionate approach to risk assessment, remembering that in schools risk assessment and risk management are tools to enable children to undertake activities safely, and not prevent activities from taking place. Sensible risk management cannot remove risk altogether but it should avoid needless or unhelpful paperwork.
	The Department will review the guidance in summer 2012.

Educational Visits: Risk Assessment

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to simplify his Department's guidance on health and safety for learning outside the classroom.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education published revised and reduced health and safety advice for schools on 2 July 2011. The guidance summarises how the existing health and safety law affects schools, local authorities, governing bodies, and staff—particularly in relation to school trips and risk assessment
	This advice has been reduced from 150 pages of information to eight pages. The Department will review the guidance again in summer 2012.

English Baccalaureate

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the take-up of school subjects of non-inclusion in the English Baccalaureate in each of the next five years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 5 December 2011
	The Department has carried out an assessment of the impact of the English Baccalaureate on subject choices, through commissioning research which was published on 31 August 2011.
	The survey indicated that 47% of pupils taking GCSEs in 2013 in the schools responding will be taking subjects that could lead to an English Baccalaureate, compared with just 23% of GCSE-stage pupils entered in 2011. The research did not provide evidence which could be used to draw robust conclusions about the take-up of individual subjects not included in the scope of the English Baccalaureate. Schools were asked to indicate whether any subjects or courses had been withdrawn from the curriculum or failed to recruit enough pupils for the next academic year. Just under half (45%) of schools reported that one or more courses or subjects had been withdrawn, or were under review. However, it was not possible to identify the extent to which these changes were as a result of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate, or the effect on take-up of individual subjects.
	The research report can be viewed at:
	https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/RSG/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-RB150
	Copies have already been placed in the House Libraries.
	We will continue to monitor the impact of the English Baccalaureate on GCSE subject choices, including through review of GCSE entries in 2012.

Free School Meals: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many school students in Preston were in receipt of free school meals on 30 September (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Nick Gibb: Information on the number of pupils eligible for free school meals on 30 September 2010 and 2011 is not collected. Free school meal eligibility is collected via the termly school censuses in January, May and October. Information on free school meal eligibility as at January 2010 and 2011 in Preston is shown in the tables. To provide information based on the October or May school censuses would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals, Preston parliamentary constituency, January each year 
			  Maintained nursery and state-funded primary schools (1, 2) State-funded secondary schools (1, 3) Special schools (4) 
			  Number on  roll (5, 6) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals Number on roll (5, 6) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals Number on roll (5, 6) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 2010 5,936 1,838 31.0 1,886 510 27.0 229 96 41.9 
			 2011 6,030 1,876 31.1 1,747 467 26.7 228 95 41.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil referral units Maintained nursery, state-funded primary  (1, 2, ) state-funded secondary (1, 3, ) special schools (4)  and pupil referral units 
			  Number on roll (5, 6) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals Number on roll (5, 6) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 2010 77 29 37.7 8,128 2,473 30.4 
			 2011 77 28 36.4 8,082 2,466 30.5 
			 (1 )Includes middle schools as deemed. (2 )Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary and all through academies. (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (5) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. In pupil referral units also includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (6) Includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15 (age as at 31 August). Source: School Census.

Free Schools

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to maintain existing successful schools in areas where free schools are proposed;
	(2)  what consultations are held with (a) existing successful schools and (b) communities in areas where a free school is proposed;
	(3)  what consideration is given to the existence of sufficient places in successful schools in an area where a new free school is proposed.

Nick Gibb: Free Schools are set up in response to parental demand and encourage neighbouring schools to improve. This demand for new schools is often caused by a lack of pupil places or parents being dissatisfied with the quality of local provision. Interested parties have the opportunity to comment on these issues during the consultation process carried out by the academy trust of each free school as part of their statutory duty.
	Consultation is a key part of the establishment of a free school. The academy trust of the free school is required by the Academies Act 2010 to carry out a consultation with appropriate stakeholders. The Secretary of State for Education will take the results of the consultation into account when deciding whether to enter into a funding agreement.

Free Schools

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions he overturned the original recommendation from his officials on a free school application; and who the applicants were.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 7 December 2011
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), receives advice from officials on a wide range of matters on a daily basis and makes his decisions having carefully considered all the relevant matters and facts.

Free Schools

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which free schools planning to open in 2012 or later have received initial approval in each (a) region, (b) local authority and (c) parliamentary constituency.

Nick Gibb: Applications for 71 free schools planning to open in 2012 or beyond have been approved to move to pre-opening stage. The locations of the free schools will depend on the availability of suitable sites, but as a guide, the proposed locations (at the time of application) are as follows:
	
		
			 Name of free school Region Local authority Constituency 
			 Al Madinah East Midlands Derby Derby South 
			 Alban City Free School East of England Hertfordshire St Albans 
			 ARK Bolingbroke Academy London Wandsworth Battersea 
			 Atherton Free School North West Wigan Leigh 
		
	
	
		
			 Barrow 1618 West Midlands Shropshire Ludlow 
			 Barwick's Own 2nd Secondary School North East Stockton-on-Tees Stockton South 
			 BBG Parents Alliance Yorkshire and the Humber Kirklees Batley and Spen 
			 Becket Keys Church School East of England Essex Brentwood and Ongar 
			 Brandon Free School East of England Suffolk West Suffolk 
			 Brighton Bilingual Primary School South East Brighton and Hove Brighton Kemptown 
			 CET Primary School London Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green and Bow 
			 CET Primary School London Westminster Westminster North 
			 Chorley Career and Sixth Form Academy North West Lancashire Chorley 
			 City of Peterborough Academy East of England Peterborough Peterborough 
			 City of Peterborough Academy Special School East of England Peterborough Peterborough 
			 Cobham Free School South East Surrey Esher and Walton 
			 Compass School London Southwark Bermondsey and Old Southwark 
			 Corby Free School East Midlands Northamptonshire Corby 
			 Cramlington Village Primary School North East Northumberland Blyth Valley 
			 Derby Pride Academy East Midlands Derby Derby South 
			 Dixons City Free Primary Yorkshire and the Humber Bradford Bradford East 
			 Dixons City Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Bradford Bradford East 
			 East Birmingham Network Free School West Midlands Birmingham Birmingham, Hodge Hill 
			 Emmanuel Community School London Waltham Forest Walthamstow 
			 EN3 Primary School London Enfield Enfield North 
			 Europa School, UK South East Oxfordshire Henley 
			 Everton in the Community Free School Trust North West Liverpool Liverpool Wavertree 
			 Frome Steiner Academy South West Somerset Somerton and Frome 
			 Gateway Primary Free School East of England Thurrock Thurrock, Eastern 
			 Golders Green Jewish Primary School London Barnet Finchley and Golders Green 
			 Grindon Hall Free School North East Sunderland Washington and Sunderland West 
			 Haringey Free School London Haringey Tottenham 
			 Harmonize Academy North West Liverpool Liverpool, Walton 
			 Harpenden Free School East of England Hertfordshire Hitchin and Harpenden 
			 Harris Peckham Primary School London Southwark Camberwell and Peckham 
			 Hatfield Community Free School East of England Hertfordshire Welwyn Hatfield 
			 Hull Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull North 
			 Kempston Academy East of England Bedford Borough Bedford 
			 King's School Woolston North West Warrington Warrington North 
			 Kingfisher Hall Primary Academy London Enfield Edmonton 
			 Lighthouse School Yorkshire and the Humber Leeds Pudsey 
			 London Academy of Excellence London Newham West Ham 
			 Michaela Community School London Lambeth Vauxhall 
			 Newham Free Academy London Newham West Ham 
			 Nishkam School Trust West Midlands Birmingham Birmingham, Perry Barr 
			 North Ealing Church of England Academy 2013 Opener London Ealing Ealing North 
			 Oakbank School South East Wokingham Wokingham 
			 One in a Million Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Bradford Bradford West 
			 Parkfield New School South West Bournemouth Bournemouth West 
			 Pimlico Primary London Westminster Cities of London and Westminster 
			 Reach Academy Feltham London Hounslow Feltham and Heston 
			 Reading University Technical Academy South East Reading Reading East 
			 Rivendale Primary School London Hammersmith and Fulham Hammersmith 
			 Rosewood School South East Southampton Southampton Test 
			 Rotherham Central Free School Yorkshire and the Humber Rotherham Rother Valley 
			 Sandymoor School North West Halton Weaver Vale 
			 School 21 London Newham West Ham 
			 Southwark Free School London Southwark Bermondsey and Old Southwark 
			 St Chaitanya's School London Harrow Harrow East 
			 St Michael's Catholic Secondary School South West Cornwall Camborne and Redruth 
			 Stone Soup Learns East Midlands Nottingham Nottingham East 
			 Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School North West Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn 
		
	
	
		
			 The Beccles Free School East Of England Suffolk Suffolk Coastal 
			 The Excellence Academy West Midlands Sandwell West Bromwich East 
			 The Greenwich Free School London Greenwich Greenwich and Woolwich 
			 The Hawthorne's Free School North West Sefton Bootle 
			 The Rural Enterprise Academy West Midlands Staffordshire Stafford 
			 The Saxmundham Free School East of England Suffolk Suffolk Coastal 
			 The Swanage School South West Dorset South Dorset 
			 The Tiger School South East Kent Maidstone and The Weald 
			 Wapping High School London Tower Hamlets Poplar and Limehouse

Free Schools: Finance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what methodology his Department uses in respect of the calculation of revenue funding for free schools; how much he has allocated to each free school in 2011-12; and how many pupils were enrolled in each school as at September 2011.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 October 2011
	Annual revenue funding for free schools is equivalent to that received by maintained schools and academies in the same local authority area.
	Guidance on the methodology used to calculate revenue funding for free schools can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/a0073853/advice-on-free-school-revenue-funding-201112
	The revenue funding allocated to each of the 24 open free schools for the academic year 2011/12 by the Young People’s Learning Agency is shown in the following table (excluding site and start-up costs).
	
		
			 School LA Phase Total pupil funding 2011/12 (rounded) (£) 
			 Aldborough E-ACT Free School Redbridge Primary 545,000 
			 All Saints Junior School Reading Primary 158,000 
			 ARK Atwood Primary Academy Westminster Primary 420,000 
			 ARK Conway Primary Academy Hammersmith and Fulham Primary 258,000 
			 Batley Grammar School Kirklees All-through 2,505,000 
			 Bristol Free School Bristol Secondary 514,000 
			 Canary Wharf College Tower Hamlets Primary 416,000 
			 Discovery New School West Sussex Primary 278,000 
			 Eden Primary School Haringey Primary 226,000 
			 Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Barnet Primary 202,000 
			 Kings Science Academy Bradford Secondary 797,000 
			 Krishna-Avanti Primary School Leicester Primary 260,000 
			 Langley Hall Primary Academy Slough Primary 827,000 
			 Maharishi School Lancashire All-through 618,000 
			 Moorlands Free School Luton Primary 1,402,000 
			 Nishkam Free School Birmingham Primary 933,000 
			 Priors Free School Warwickshire Primary 243,000 
			 Rainbow Primary School Bradford Primary 290,000 
			 Sandbach School Cheshire East Secondary 4,893,000 
			 St Luke's Church of England Primary School Camden Primary 169,000 
			 Stour Valley Community School Suffolk Secondary 875,000 
			 The Free School Norwich Norfolk Primary 427,000 
			 West London Free School Hammersmith and Fulham Secondary 825,000 
			 Woodpecker Hall Primary School Enfield Primary 392,000 
		
	
	We estimate that the free schools which opened in September 2011 have over 3,000 pupils enrolled in total. Information about the number of children on roll at each school will be collected in the annual school census and published in due course.

Free Schools: Finance

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason he has decided to provide funding for free schools specialising in mathematics for 16 to 18 year olds rather than funding for additional places in existing high-performing colleges and school sixth forms.

Nick Gibb: Our proposal could give strong university mathematics departments and academics in this country the chance to lead in developing and implementing new curricula and teaching methods for the most able mathematics students and provide the best possible preparation for further study in mathematics and related disciplines in our leading universities. We are keen to engage with all those who have an interest to explore possible models and innovative ideas.

Further Education

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with each sector skill council since May 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 21 November 2011
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has not met any of the Sector Skills Councils since May 2010.
	I met E-Skills on 29 November 2011. The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, my hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes), met the Construction Industry Training Board twice (on 28 October 2010 and 12 October 2011) and Creative and Culture Skills twice (on 14 October 2011 and 12 December 2011).
	No other Ministers for the Department for Education have met any of the Sector Skills Councils since May 2010.

GCE A-level

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils from (a) comprehensive and (b) independent schools achieved (i) three As at A Level and (ii) three A Level passes in (A) 1997 and (B) 2010.

Nick Gibb: Information for 1997 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The information for the year 2010 is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Percentage ofcandidates (1, 2, 3 ) achieving three or more AS level and three or more A level passes at comprehensive and independent mainstream schools, 2010 
			 Percentage 
			 Admissions policy of school (4) Pupils achieving three or more individual AS level subject passes Pupils achieving three or more individual A level subject passes 
			 Comprehensive schools(5) 87.0 72.8 
			 Independent mainstream schools(6) 95.3 89.8 
			 (1) Students entered for a GCE or applied GCE A level or other level 3 qualification equivalent in size to an A level. (2) Including attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. (3) Students are at the end of key stage 5 studies in the academic year 2009/10. (4) School type as recorded in the Post-16 School Performance Tables. (5) Including city technology colleges and academies. (6 )Excludes non-maintained and independent special schools. Source: Post 16 School Performance Tables. 
		
	
	Provisional figures for 2011 were published on 20 October 2011 in the Statistical First Release “GCE/Applied GCE A/AS and Equivalent Examination Results in England, 2010/11 (Provisional)” which is available at the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001035/index.shtml

Grammar Schools: Free School Meals

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils at grammar schools are entitled to free school meals as a proportion of all pupils in (a) the catchment area at the school, (b) the local authority ward in which the school is located and (c) the local authority area in which the school is located.

Nick Gibb: The requested information by local authority area and local authority ward is shown in the following tables.
	Information for the catchment area of the schools is not available.
	
		
			 Selective schools: pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (1, 2, 3) , January 2011, by ward, for those with at least one selective school, England 
			 Ward name Number on roll, all schools in the ward area (2, 3, 4) Number of pupils in selective schools known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in the ward area (1, 2, 3) Number of pupils in selective schools (1)  known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as a percentage of all pupils (2. 3. 4 ) in the ward area 
			 Abbey 15,951 56 0.35 
			 Alcester 1,423 4 0.28 
		
	
	
		
			 Alford 1,549 17 1.10 
			 Altrincham 1,574 22 1.40 
			 Aston 7,609 64 0.84 
			 Bartley Green 3,837 19 0.50 
			 Barton 8,137 33 0.41 
			 Baylis and Stoke 2,160 20 0.93 
			 Beaconsfield South 1,909 x x 
			 Beddington South 2,769 12 0.43 
			 Bedgrove 4,749 11 0.23 
			 Benenden and Cranbrook 1,561 x x 
			 Bilton 1,637 12 0.73 
			 Blenheim Park 3,675 31 0.84 
			 Bockhanger 901 26 2.89 
			 Bourne East 2,398 9 0.38 
			 Bournville 5,121 43 0.84 
			 Bowdon 3,120 29 0.93 
			 Bridge 5,775 14 0.24 
			 Buckingham South 1,818 17 0.94 
			 Bulk 1,805 19 1.05 
			 Burnham Church 1,444 18 1.25 
			 Caistor 1,307 5 0.38 
			 Caldecott 961 9 0.94 
			 Canford Heath West 1,108 24 2.17 
			 Central 19,197 38 0.20 
			 Central Harbour 658 24 3.65 
			 Chatham Central 2,931 24 0.82 
			 Chesham Bois and Weedon Hill 1,578 7 0.44 
			 Christ Church 916 5 0.55 
			 Christchurch 4,399 25 0.57 
			 Church 5,663 27 0.48 
			 Churston-with-Galmpton 1,281 34 2.65 
			 Clatterbridge 2,782 74 2.66 
			 Claughton 3,792 59 1.56 
			 Cockington-with-Chelston 2,876 25 0.87 
			 Coly Valley 877 11 1.25 
			 Creekmoor 1,122 28 2.50 
			 Danson Park 2,070 41 1.98 
			 Drake 776 25 3.22 
			 Duke’s 2,265 18 0.79 
			 East 5,968 25 0.42 
			 Eastcliff 811 24 2.96 
			 Elmbridge 1,086 7 0.64 
			 Farnborough and Crofton 3,444 4 0.12 
			 Folkestone Park 2,604 49 1.88 
			 Folkestone Sandgate 1,202 49 4.08 
			 Fullwell 3,044 32 1.05 
			 Gainsborough North 2,196 21 0.96 
			 Garden Suburb 2,456 13 0.53 
			 Hale 4,935 18 0.36 
		
	
	
		
			 Hale End and Highams Park 2,002 26 1.30 
			 Haselbury 4,169 39 0.94 
			 Hatherton Rushall 1,346 31 2 30 
			 Heath 8,060 18 0.22 
			 Heckmondwike 3,247 22 0.68 
			 Hesters Way 799 6 0.75 
			 High Barnet 2,866 17 0.59 
			 High Street 2,678 20 0.75 
			 Hilltop and Townsend 1,072 13 1.21 
			 Horncastle 1,883 10 0.53 
			 Hoylake 1,758 28 1.59 
			 Illingworth 3,390 10 0.29 
			 Judd 1,808 6 0.33 
			 Katesgrove 1,339 5 0.37 
			 Kedermister 3,096 16 0.52 
			 Kingsholm and Wotton 1,377 11 0.80 
			 Langley St Mary's 1,100 5 0.45 
			 Lexden 2,186 4 0.18 
			 Little Chalfont 1,079 5 0.46 
			 Longford 4,625 61 1.32 
			 Luton and Wayfield 3,390 30 0.88 
			 Marconi 916 6 0.66 
			 Marlow North and West 2,482 x x 
			 Medway 1,996 10 0.50 
			 Moreland 1,459 13 0.89 
			 Newport West 1,074 8 0.74 
			 Nonsuch 1,525 15 0.98 
			 Norbiton 1,258 16 1.27 
			 North 6,252 12 0.19 
			 Orpington 2,166 5 0.23 
			 Paddock 2,890 16 0.55 
			 Park 30,558 11 0.04 
			 Patching Hall 1,883 6 0.32 
			 Pelham 1,189 18 1.51 
			 Penrith South 1,947 6 0.31 
			 Peverell 1,859 23 1.24 
			 Pilgrim 343 10 2.92 
			 Podsmead 573 15 2.62 
			 Priory 6,519 17 0.26 
			 Prittlewell 2,843 12 0.42 
			 Redlands 855 3 0.35 
			 Ripon Spa 1,604 7 0.44 
			 River 5,160 25 0.48 
			 Rochester East 1,685 14 0.83 
			 Rochester West 1,280 25 1.95 
			 Royden 3,158 36 1.14 
			 Sandwich 2,273 IS 0.79 
			 Sidcup 3,280 24 0.73 
			 Skiplon North 2,124 18 0.85 
			 Skircoat 2,386 23 0.96 
			 Sleaford Castle 1,031 12 1.16 
			 Sleaford Westholme 2,829 19 0.67 
		
	
	
		
			 Soho 6,068 118 1.94 
			 Southchurch 2,720 24 0.88 
			 Southcourt 1,613 14 0.87 
			 Spalding St John’s 1,050 16 1.51 
			 Spalding St Mary’s 2,678 20 0.75 
			 St Anne’s 2,682 22 0.82 
			 St Clement’s 2,151 14 0.65 
			 St John’s 13,356 33 0.25 
			 St Mark and Stratford 1,440 6 0.42 
			 St Martin and Milford 935 x x 
			 St Mary's 13,960 28 0.20 
			 St Michaels 3,002 41 1.37 
			 St Peters 4,597 42 0.89 
			 St Wulfram’s 2,429 12 0.49 
			 Stoke 3,688 15 0.41 
			 Stoke and Trent Vale 2,752 11 0.40 
			 Stour 3,281 20 0.61 
			 Stratford Guild and Hathaway 2,602 9 0.35 
			 Strouden Park 2,888 56 1.94 
			 Sutton Central 1,402 12 0.86 
			 Sutton Four Oaks 4,518 33 0.73 
			 Sutton Vesey 3,335 31 0.93 
			 Terriers and Amersham Hill 2,057 7 0.34 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,423 68 2.81 
			 Tudor 1,685 8 0.47 
			 Twydall 2,706 37 1.37 
			 Upton 5,370 85 1.58 
			 Urmston 1,323 22 1.66 
			 Vauxhall 1,028 x x 
			 Wallington North 1,244 14 1.13 
			 Wallington South 1,792 17 0.95 
			 West Finchley 1,545 21 1.36 
			 West Hill 5,089 35 0.69 
			 Whitewell 1,976 17 0.86 
			 Wilmington 2,174 29 1.33 
			 Wincheap 1,222 20 1.64 
			 x = 1 or 2 pupils or a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils. (1) Includes pupils who are eligible for and claiming free school meals who attend one of the 164 selective schools in England. (2) Includes pupils who are a sole or dual main registration. Includes boarders. In pupil referral units includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (3 )Pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (4) Includes maintained nursery, state-funded primary, slate-funded secondary and special schools and pupil referral units. Includes middle schools as deemed, primary academies, secondary academies and city technology colleges. Source: School Census. 
		
	
	
		
			 Selective schools: pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (1, 2, 3) , January 2011,  by local authority area, for those with at least one selective school, England 
			  Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 LA code LA name Number on roll schools in LA area (2,3,4) Number of pupils in selective schools known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in the LA area (1,2,3) Number of pupils in selective schools (1)  known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as a percentage of all pupils  (2,3,4)  in the LA area 
			 E09000003 302 Barnet 42,891 51 0.12 
			 E09000004 303 Bexley 36,231 104 0.29 
			 E08000025 330 Birmingham 163,719 308 0.19 
			 E06000028 837 Bournemouth 18,801 56 0.30 
			 E09000006 305 Bromley 41,095 9 0.02 
			 El 0000002 825 Buckinghamshire 66,753 138 0.21 
			 E08000033 381 Calderdale 31,064 33 0.11 
			 E10000006 909 Cumbria 62,887 6 0.01 
			 El0000006 878 Devon 87,844 11 0.01 
			 E09000010 308 Enfield 46,232 39 0.08 
			 E10000012 881 Essex 181,122 21 0.01 
			 E10000013 916 Gloucestershire 75,956 76 0.10 
			 El0000016 886 Kent 191,211 653 0.34 
			 E09000021 314 Kingston upon Thames 19,087 24 0.13 
			 E09000034 382 Kirklees 57,665 22 0.04 
			 El 0000017 888 Lancashire 153,392 62 0.04 
			 E10000019 925 Lincolnshire 91,660 205 0.22 
			 E08000012 341 Liverpool 57,512 27 0.05 
			 E06000035 887 Medway 37,550 155 0.41 
			 E10000023 815 North Yorkshire 74,447 25 0.03 
			 E06000026 879 Plymouth 32,908 63 0.19 
			 E06000029 836 Poole 16,965 52 0.31 
			 E06000038 870 Reading 15,601 8 0,05 
			 E09000026 317 Redbridge 41,261 58 0,14 
			 E05000039 871 Slough 20,650 81 0,39 
			 E06000033 882 Southend-on-Sea 23,997 67 0,28 
			 E06000021 861 Stoke-on-Trent 34,502 11 0,03 
			 E09000029 319 Sutton 27,364 70 0,26 
			 E06000020 894 Telford and Wrekin 24,171 8 0,03 
			 E06000027 880 Torbay 16,286 59 0,36 
			 E08000009 358 Trafford 33,016 169 0,51 
			 E08000030 335 Walsall 40,481 47 0,12 
			 El 0000031 937 Warwickshire 69,064 34 0,05 
			 E06000054 865 Wiltshire 59,691 7 0,01 
			 E08000015 344 Wirral 43,331 242 0,56 
			 E08000031 336 Wolverhampton 32,600 11 0,03 
			 (1) Includes pupils who are eligible for and claiming free school meals who attend one of the 164 selective schools in England. (2) Includes pupils who are a sole or dual main registration, Includes boarders. (3) Pupils who have full time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (4) Includes maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools and pupil referral units, Includes middle schools as deemed, primary academies, secondary academies and city technology colleges. Source: School Census.

Languages: GCSE

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils were not entered for a modern foreign language GCSE in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: The number of pupils who were not entered for a modern foreign language GCSE is given in the table. Information has been given for 1997, 2010 and 2011—other years can be provided only at disproportionate cost:
	
		
			  Number of pupils who were not entered (1)  for a modern foreign language GCSE (2) 
			 1997(3,5) 153,500 
			 2010(4,5) 366,500 
			 2011(4,5) 377,600 
			 (1) Includes students who were entered but received a grade X in the subject. (2) Figures are given to the nearest hundred. (3) 1997 figures relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year. (4 )Figures for pupils at the end of key stage 4. (5) 2011 figures are provisional results unchecked by schools, all other figures are final. Source: School and College Performance Tables.

Mathematics: Free Schools

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding will be made available for the new specialist mathematics free schools for 16 to 18 year olds.

Nick Gibb: Specialist maths free schools for 16 to 18-year-olds will receive revenue funding on the basis of the national funding formula for all 16 to 18 provision.
	We are keen to engage with all those who have an interest to explore possible models and innovative ideas. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), will consider carefully the estimated or potential capital cost of each proposal and will be looking for projects that offer value for money.

Mathematics: GCSE

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils did not achieve an (a) A*-C grade and (b) A*-G grade in mathematics GCSE in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: The number of pupils who did not achieve an A*-C grade or an A*-G grade in GCSE mathematics is given in the following table. Information for other years can be provided only at disproportionate cost:
	
		
			 Number 
			  Pupils not achieving an A*-C grade in GCSE mathematics (1) Pupils not achieving an A*-G grade in GCSE mathematics (1) 
			 1997(2, 4) 336,500 75,900 
			 2010(3, 4) 253,500 53,600 
			 2011(3, 4) 236,700 52,500 
			 (1) Figures are given to the nearest hundred. (2) 1997 figures relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year. (3) Figures for 2010 and 2011 are for pupils at the end of key stage 4. (4) 2011 figures are provisional results unchecked by schools, all other figures are final. Source: School and College Performance Tables.

Mathematics: Specialist Schools

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding was withdrawn from specialist mathematics schools and colleges on the abolition of specialist school status and specialist school networks.

Nick Gibb: Funding for specialist schools was mainstreamed into the dedicated schools grant (DSG) from April 2011. The amount per pupil that each local authority was allocated for specialist schools in 2010-11 was added to each local authority’s DSG per pupil for 2011-12. It was for local authorities, in consultation with their schools forum, to decide how to take account of previous specialist schools funding when determining their local schools funding formulae. To reduce the level of turbulence, the Government set a minimum funding guarantee to ensure that no school would see a reduction in their recurrent budget of more than 1.5% per pupil. Previous levels of specialist school funding were included in the calculation of this minimum funding guarantee.

Music: Education

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1085W, on music: education, what the budget of the music standards fund will be in 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: The following table shows Department for Education funding for music education in England in 2011-12.
	
		
			  £ 
			 In Harmony 500,000 
			 Sing Up 4,000,000 
			 Music Education Grant 77,000,000 
			 Smaller contracts, organisations and projects 1,000,000 
			 Music and Dance Scheme 29,100,000 
		
	
	During 2011-12 the Department for Education has developed a national plan for music education and a new funding mechanism. For this transitional year the Department has asked the Federation of Music Services (FMS) to administer the Music Education Grant on its behalf.

National Curriculum Tests

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 2 in each (a) region, (b) local authority and (c) parliamentary constituency in 2011;
	(2)  what proportion of pupils achieved Level 2 or below in Key Stage 2 reading tests in each parliamentary constituency in 2010-11.

Nick Gibb: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Public Sector: Pensions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his recent speech on strike action over planned changes to public sector pensions, which individual trades union leaders he was referring to.

Nick Gibb: In his speech of 28 November, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), distinguished between those trade union leaders who negotiate hard on behalf of their members and a minority who take a more confrontational line. He made clear that he was not referring to any of the leaders of the teaching unions.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of children from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds who are eligible for the pupil premium; and if he will make pupil premium funding available for all children from such backgrounds.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 24 November 2011
	For 2011-12, 7,730 pupils from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds were eligible for the pupil premium, representing 43.5% of the total number of pupils from these backgrounds included in the January school census and local returns.
	The issues for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children are complex. The Government have set up a ministerial working group to consider them and any decisions will be taken in the light of the outcomes from this group.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much he plans to allocate in funding for the pupil premium to Redditch constituency.

Nick Gibb: Pupil Premium funding is provided in respect of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM), children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months and children whose parents are serving in the armed forces. In the Redditch constituency in January 2011 there were 1,958 pupils known to be eligible for FSM and 13 service children, giving an allocation of £958,000 in 2011-12. The total number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium in the Redditch constituency may be higher but it is not possible to identify the number of pupils in each parliamentary constituency recorded as being in care or recorded in the Alternative Provision census as, in both cases, the returns are provided at local authority level rather than at establishment level.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to extend educational opportunities to disadvantaged children; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the new admissions codes on such children.

Nick Gibb: The top education priority for the coalition Government is to improve the life chances of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Government plan to introduce an entitlement to free early education for disadvantaged two-year-olds from September 2013. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in his Autumn Statement that the Government will increase the amount of funding for this entitlement to £760 million in 2014-15. This means that at least 260,000 children will be able to benefit each year, some 40% of the total number of two-year-olds.
	From April 2011 we introduced the pupil premium, which guarantees additional funding for schools with children from low-income families, and will help boost the attainment of the poorest children. Total funding is £625 million in 2011-12 increasing to £1.25 billion in 2012-13, and £2.5 billion in 2014-15.
	On 1 December the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), laid the revised Schools Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code before Parliament as required under section 85 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Subject to the views of Parliament, these codes will come into force on 1 February 2012. Academies provide the best available opportunity for disadvantaged children in today's system, and a less prescriptive Schools Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code will enable many more of those children to attend higher performing schools.

Pupils: Hearing Impairment

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness amongst schoolteachers.

Sarah Teather: The Department is seeking to drive up awareness of special educational needs and disability (SEND) among teachers.
	This includes new standards for Qualified Teacher Status, a scholarship for teachers to improve and extend their expertise when working with pupils with SEND and funding for 9,000 special educational needs co-ordinators to achieve the mandatory higher level award by the end of 2011-12.
	As part of the scholarship programme teachers are eligible to apply for funding for the mandatory qualification in teaching pupils with a hearing impairment.
	The Department is also funding the National Deaf Children's Society to revise some of its materials for teachers and schools to better respond to the needs of deaf children.

Reading: Primary Education

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many qualified reading recovery teachers there are in schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	There are currently 1,484 reading recovery teachers delivering the Every Child a Reader programme in schools.

Reading: Primary Education

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children receiving reading recovery intervention are eligible for free school meals.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	In 2010-11, where schools recorded this information, 8,735 children (42%) who were selected for the Reading Recovery programme were entitled to free school meals.

Reading: Primary Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what evaluation his Department plans to undertake on his proposed phonics screening at age six (a) 12 months and (b) 24 months following the commencement of the programme; and whether he plans to evaluate the effects of screening on children with speech, language and communication needs.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	The Department is currently scoping a research project to evaluate the impact of the phonics screening check. It will be important that this evaluation considers the impact of the screening check on different groups of children, including children with a range of different special education needs.

Reading: Primary Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department plans to issue guidance to primary schools on implementing the phonics screening at age six; and whether any such guidance will include information on how to assist children with speech, language and communication needs.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	The Department is issuing three pieces of guidance for schools in relation to administering the year 1 phonics screening check. The first is the assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA) which explain the statutory requirements for administering the check in 2012. The second is a check administration guide and the third is a video version of this guide. These guides are more bespoke to the nature of the check and they refer to the responsibility of schools to ensure provision is made to meet the needs of all children with special educational needs. One of the reasons for producing a video version is that this medium can most clearly provide advice to teachers administering the check to pupils with speech, language and communication needs.

Reading: Primary Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of his proposed phonics screening at age six on children with (a) special educational needs and (b) speech, language and communication needs; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	The Year 1 phonics screening check is designed to identify children who need help with decoding using phonics at an early stage in their schooling. The Government want as many children as possible to access the assessment, including those with special educational needs.
	The Standards and Testing Agency is currently analysing all of the data from the pilot and will provide a technical evaluation of the Year 1 phonics screening check, including information relating to Ofqual's common assessment criteria of validity, reliability, minimising bias, comparability and manageability. The technical report will include a dedicated section on the experience of children with special educational needs, including those with speech, language and communication needs. The Department intends the report to be published in spring 2012.

Schools: Administration

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made on reducing the administrative burden on schools associated with requirements on continuing professional development.

Nick Gibb: The Government are committed to reducing the administrative burden on schools. The School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document requires that teachers participate in arrangements for continuing professional development, and, where appropriate, that of other teachers and support staff. There are no administrative requirements on schools in relation to teachers' professional development.
	We have recently consulted on changes to the newly qualified teachers (NQT) induction regulations with the intention of establishing new arrangements that will reduce unnecessary prescription and burdens on schools from September 2012.
	A number of measures have already been taken to reduce bureaucracy in schools: the Self Evaluation Form has been removed; the Financial Management Standard in Schools (FMSIS) has been scrapped and the inspection framework has been streamlined. In addition, all data collections are being reviewed and the volume of guidance has been significantly reduced. A number of burdensome statutory duties and requirements have also been removed through the Education Act 2011.

Schools: Admissions

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the shortage of (a) primary school places and (b) secondary school places in (i) Lambeth local authority, (ii) London and (iii) England.

Nick Gibb: The Department collects information from each local authority on school capacity in maintained schools through an annual survey, which includes local authorities' own pupil forecasts. The most recent survey data relate to the position at May 2010 and are available on the Department for Education's website.
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000982/index.shtml
	It is the responsibility of each local authority to help manage the supply and demand for primary and secondary school places in their area and secure a place for every child of statutory school age who wants one. The Department provides capital funding to local authorities to ensure there are sufficient school places.

Schools: Admissions

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the required number of (a) primary and (b) secondary school places in (A) Pendle constituency and (B) East Lancashire in each of the next five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department collects information from each local authority on school capacity in maintained schools through an annual survey, which includes local authorities' own pupil forecasts. The most recent survey data relate to the position at May 2010 and are available on the Department for Education's website,
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000982/index.shtml
	The Department provides capital funding to local authorities to support the provision of sufficient school places. It is the responsibility of each local authority to manage the supply and demand for primary and secondary school places in their area and secure a place for every child of statutory school age who wants one.

Schools: Admissions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what variations in the requirement to comply with the School Admissions Code he has agreed in funding agreements with academies and free schools; and with which schools he has made any such agreement.

Nick Gibb: All academies and free schools are required by their funding agreements to comply with the school admissions code, except in cases where to do otherwise would better support local children. This Government have agreed one derogation from the school admissions code for a specific free school, the Canary Wharf College Free School, and has also agreed that because of the accelerated timescale for the opening of university technical colleges, studio schools and free schools, there is no requirement for these schools to be within the local process for co-ordinating admissions in the first year of establishment. For future years they must be within local authority co-ordination.

Schools: Expenditure

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of expenditure on all maintained schools was spent on (a) head teachers and other teaching staff, (b) classroom assistants, (c) other staff, (d) other current (revenue) spending and (e) capital spending in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: The available information on what proportion of expenditure on all maintained schools was spent on (a) head teachers and other teaching staff, (b) classroom assistants, (c)other staff, (d) other current (revenue) spending and (e) capital spending in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available is contained within the following tables:
	
		
			 Table 1: (a) to (d)—Revenue expenditure on teaching staff and all other categories in maintained schools for 1996-97 and 2009-10 
			  1996-97 2009-10 
			  £000 Percentage £000 Percentage 
			 Teaching staff(1) 9,304,145 618 18,301,482 51.8 
			 Education support staff(2) 964,266 6.4 4,932,966 14.0 
			 Other staff(3) 1,132,196 7.5 3,260,570 9.2 
			 Other current (revenue) spending(4) 3,656,733 24.3 8,838,958 25.0 
		
	
	
		
			 Total gross expenditure 15,057,340 100.0 35,333,976 100.0 
			 (1) Includes teachers employed directly by the school, including supernumerary/peripatetic teachers on short-term contracts and supply teaching staff who are covering curriculum release, long term absence, sickness absence and training absence. Relates to all contracted full time and part time teachers paid within the scope of the ‘The Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions) Order 2009’ and includes expenditure on salaries and wages consisting of gross pay, including bonus and allowances, maternity pay and the employer's contributions to national insurance and superannuation. Also includes threshold payments and other payments relating to teacher reforms. Expenditure on supply teachers not employed directly from the school (i.e. paid via an agency or another third party) is also included. Does not include expenditure on teaching staff employed centrally by the local authority. (2) Salaries and wages of support staff employed directly by the school in support of students' learning: child care staff, classroom assistants/learning support assistants, exam invigilators, foreign language assistants, librarians, nursery assistants, pianists, residential child care officers at a residential special school, supply education support staff, workshop and technology technicians, expenditure on salaries and wages consisting of gross pay, including of bonus and allowances, maternity pay and the employer's contributions to national insurance and superannuation, educational welfare officers. Education support staff not employed directly by the school are excluded from education support staff totals. (3) 1996-97 only includes expenditure on caretakers, cleaners, maintenance staff, groundsmen, porters, messengers, security staff, car park attendants, escorts and other persons who carry out premises related work and any other staff not included, administrative and clerical staff and any other staff not covered by footnotes 1, 2 or 3. 2009-10 includes all spend on staff employed directly by the school in support of students' learning not previously included in teaching staff and education support staff. Staff not employed directly by the school are excluded from these totals. (4) Includes all other spend such as those on running expenses, premises related expenditure, supply and services expenditure, transport expenditure, third party payments and transfer payments, in maintained schools in England. Spend on centrally retained expenses is not included in these totals. Notes: 1. Includes all local authority maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. 2.( )1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the Section 52 form from the DFES 3. Cash terms figures (£000). The data are taken from the local authorities Section 251 Outturn statement for 2009-10. 4. The above data used are at 31 March 2011. These data will not match the information published on 6 January 2011 because it was amended by the local authorities. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: (e): Capital spending on schools in 1996-97 and 2010-11 
			 £ billion 
			  1996-97 2010-11 
			 Capital expenditure 0.6 6.3 
			 Notes: 1. Capital expenditure includes supported borrowing that was allocated to local authorities to fund capital investment in schools. 2. Capital expenditure does not include PFI.

Schools: Finance

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much matched funding his Department has provided to schools for phonics products and services since May 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	From September 2011 to March 2013 we have made available up to £3,000 in match-funding to schools with key stage 1 pupils, so that they can buy approved systematic synthetic phonics products and training. We estimate that around £2.2 million of match-funding has been provided to schools to date for products and training services.

Schools: ICT

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect of increasing use of computers in the classroom on standards of handwriting in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the effect of the use of computers in the classroom on standards of handwriting in primary or secondary schools. The current programmes of study for English in primary schools require pupils to be taught handwriting, from forming and joining letters at ages five to seven, then writing legibly in both joined and printed styles, with increasing fluency and speed as they move up through primary school. At secondary level, they should be able to write legibly, and with fluency. The effective use of technology can support good teaching and helps raise standards, including supporting pupils with special educational needs or disabilities.

Schools: Risk Assessment

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to transfer health and safety responsibilities in schools from local authorities to governing bodies.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education is determined to reduce or amend health and safety law as it applies to schools to enable schools to take a proportionate and common sense approach to school activities.
	In this context we are currently considering the options for transferring employer health and safety duties to governing bodies. For all schools where the local authority is currently responsible for health and safety, this would mean that these schools would gain the discretion and freedom already enjoyed by academy trusts, foundation, voluntary-aided and free schools. In practical terms it is the governing body that acts as the school staff’s employer, even where in the majority of cases, the formal employment contract is with the local authority.

Schools: Sports

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he has given to schools regarding the release of PE teachers to organise sport in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 22 November 2011
	The Department informed schools of the purpose of the funding for PE teacher release on 15 July 2011. The information below was communicated to all eligible schools who were told that funding will be for the two academic years 2011/12 and 2012/13.
	“The PE teacher release funding is not ring-fenced. The Department encouraged schools to use the funding to release secondary PE teachers from timetable for one day a week; to provide specialist PE and sport support to local primary schools and within their own school; to embed good practice; and to provide more competitive sport for all pupils, including the School Games.
	These PE teachers can:
	help schools to create sustainable school sport competition, both within and between schools, involving all pupils;
	help schools to involve their staff, parents, local people and young leaders and volunteers to lead competitive sport; and
	help schools to engage in sport pupils who are less active or who do not have equal access or opportunity to compete (e.g. pupils with disabilities)”.
	Schools were advised that they should plan on the basis that funding will end by August 2013. They should seek to embed the work that the released PE teachers do within their school and with local primary schools into their core provision.

Social Justice Committee

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many meetings of the Social Justice Committee Ministers in his Department have attended since its establishment.

Tim Loughton: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet and which Ministers have attended, is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Special Educational Needs: Academies

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether special educational needs (SEN) funding will change for academies which are within a local authority undertaking a SEN audit.

Nick Gibb: I refer my hon. Friend to my response given on 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 110W.

Special Educational Needs: Academies

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether funding for specialist education support services for children with special educational needs in academies will be (a) considered a relevant factor in the calculation of local authority central spending equivalent grants and (b) recouped from local authorities in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2011
	For 2011-12 the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), decided that funding for specialist education support services should be included in the calculation of local authority central spending equivalent grant (LACSEG) for academies, but should not be recouped from local authorities. The Secretary of State for Education will confirm arrangements for 2012-13 after the consultation on the Academies Funding Transfer (LACSEG) which ends on 12 January 2012.

Students: Disadvantaged

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of its education funding in targeting disadvantaged students in Pendle constituency since April 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Government introduced the pupil premium from April 2011 to target extra funding to help schools raise the attainment of pupils from deprived backgrounds and reduce educational inequalities. We are providing £625 million this year and this will rise to £2.5 billion by 2014-15. Pupils eligible for free school meals, including those in Pendle, will benefit from this extra funding.
	This is the first year of the premium and it is too early to judge its performance. To monitor progress on attainment, however, new measures will be included in the performance tables that will report the achievement of pupils covered by the pupil premium. From September 2012, we will also require schools to publish online information about how they have used the premium. This will ensure that parents and others are aware of the progress and attainment of pupils covered by the premium.
	In addition, Ofsted will be introducing a new inspection framework for schools in January 2012. It will be a requirement for Ofsted to consider how well schools are meeting the needs of all their pupils. This will mean considering the data on all groups and individuals, including attainment, progression, behaviour and attendance, with a particular emphasis on how well attainment gaps are narrowing between the performance of different groups of pupils in the school and compared to pupils nationally.

Teachers: Disciplinary Proceedings

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers were struck off for (a) incompetence and (b) any other reason in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 December 2011
	From 2001 to the present day, the General Teaching Council for England, which currently administers the regulatory system for teachers, has prohibited a total of 228 teachers—211 teachers have been prohibited for misconduct and 17 for professional incompetence. Figures for each year are set out in the following table in Annex A.
	
		
			 Annex A: Number of teachers prohibited by the GTCE since 2001 
			   Number 
			 2001/02 Incompetence 1 
			  Misconduct 1 
			    
			 2002/03 Misconduct 1 
			    
			 2003/04 Misconduct 8 
			    
			 2004/05 Misconduct 5 
			  Incompetence 1 
			    
			 2005/06 Misconduct 9 
			  Incompetence 1 
			    
			 2006/07 Misconduct 32 
			  Incompetence 4 
			    
			 2007/08 Misconduct 27 
			  incompetence 2 
			    
			 2008/09 Misconduct 23 
			  Incompetence 2 
			    
			 2009/10 Misconduct 10 
		
	
	
		
			  Incompetence 4 
			    
			 2010/11 Misconduct 32 
			  Incompetence 1 
			    
			 2011/12 Misconduct 63 
			  Incompetence 1

Teachers: Disciplinary Proceedings

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers went through school competency proceedings in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 December 2011
	The operation and outcome of competency and capability procedures in schools is a matter for local determination. Accordingly, the information requested about the number of teachers who have been subject to capability proceedings is not held centrally.

Teachers: Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the findings of the National Union of Teachers' technical note, entitled Comparison of payments into and from the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 December 2011
	It is unrealistic to assess the sustainability and affordability of the current Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) based on such historic information. There have been lots of changes within the TPS since the scheme was established; this includes changes to contribution rates and the benefits that the scheme provides. It is much more realistic to look at the current and future position of the scheme's finances.
	The TPS, like most public service pension schemes, is an unfunded scheme. This means that current pension contributions, both from employees and employers, are used to help offset the cost of paying pensions to current pensioners. The shortfall between contributions received and pensions paid each year is met by the Exchequer. In 2005/06, expenditure on teachers' pensions was some £5 billion; by 2015/16 it is forecast to exceed £10 billion as a result of increases in life expectancy and growing numbers of teacher pensioners.

Teachers: Pensions

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the monetary value was of (a) contributions received and (b) payments made by the Teachers' Pension Scheme (i) in each of the last 10 years and (ii) since the inception of the scheme; and what estimate he has made of the monetary value of such contributions and payments in each of the next 10 years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 1 December 2011
	Teachers' pension scheme contributions and expenditure since 1949 are included in the following table. These are extracted from the appropriate published scheme accounts. The Teachers pension scheme has its foundation in the School Teachers' (Superannuation) Act 1918 although the information requested is only available since 1949.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Year ending 31 March Contributions Total expenditure 
			 1949 10 7 
			 1950 11 8 
			 1951 11 9 
			 1952 14 9 
			 1953 15 10 
			 1954 15 11 
			 1955 17 11 
			 1956 18 12 
			 1957 24 12 
			 1958 30 14 
			 1959 31 17 
			 1960 35 19 
			 1961 38 21 
			 1962 41 23 
			 1963 47 26 
			 1964 51 31 
			 1965 54 37 
			 1966 63 40 
			 1967 79 47 
			 1968 86 53 
			 1969 91 60 
			 1970 101 64 
			 1971 113 70 
			 1972 126 76 
			 1973 179 86 
			 1974 205 102 
			 1975 245 115 
			 1976 394 147 
			 1977 401 178 
			 1978 427 209 
			 1979 473 246 
			 1980 504 275 
			 1981 639 341 
			 1982 720 451 
			 1983 765 469 
			 1984 802 554 
			 1985 895 638 
			 1986 912 713 
			 1987 1,074 778 
			 1988 1,144 828 
			 1989 1,262 1,030 
			 1990 1,217 1,192 
			 1991 1,317 1,343 
			 1992 1,427 2,175 
			 1993 1,567 2,405 
			 1994 1,608 2,650 
			 1995 1,659 2,717 
			 1996 1,725 2,943 
			 1997 1,788 3,264 
			 1998 1,747 3,644 
			 1999 1,760 3,380 
			 2000 1,869 3,578 
			 2001 2,005 3,702 
			 2002 2,219 3,965 
			 2003 2,526 4,230 
			 2004 3,670 4,473 
			 2005 3,768 4,793 
			 2006 3,900 5,184 
			 2007 4,140 5,548 
			 2008 4,446 6,059 
			 2009 4,613 6,562 
			 2010 4,728 7,098 
			 2011 4,860 7,597 
		
	
	Due to changes in the accounting standards over the period the figures are not directly comparable. Specifically the expenditure and the contributions figures show a marked increase in 1992 and 2004 respectively, due to the impact of how pensions increase was accounted for within the scheme finances. This means that figures prior to these years do not show the full cost of providing the scheme.
	Estimates of contribution receipts and expenditure up to 2016-17 were published by the Office for Budget Responsibility on 29 November 2011 as part of the publication “Economic and fiscal outlook supplementary fiscal tables—November 2011”. An extract relating to the teachers' pension scheme is included as follows.
	
		
			 £ billion 
			  Expenditure Receipts 
			 2011-12 8.1 4.9 
			 2012-13 8.9 5.0 
			 2013-14 9.5 5.1 
			 2014-15 10.0 5.2 
			 2015-16 10.6 5.4 
			 2016-17 11.2 5.5

Teachers: Qualifications

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teaching staff completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in the 2010-11 school year by (a) phase of the school where they were working and (b) Government office region; and how many headships were advertised by schools requiring the NPQH qualification by (i) phase of school and (ii) government office region in each month of 2011 to date.

Nick Gibb: The National Professional Qualification for Headship, (NPQH), is administered by the National College for School Leadership. Steve Munby, the chief executive, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Steve Munby, dated 8 December 2011
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ085434:
	“To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teaching staff completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in the 2010-11 school year by (a) phase of the school where they were working and (b) government office region; and how many headships were advertised by schools requiring the NPQH qualification by (i) phase of school and (ii) government office region in each month of 2011 to date.”
	I confirm that the National College holds the details of the numbers of teaching staff who have completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in the 2010-11 school year by (a) phase of the school where they were working and (b) government office region and these are shown in the following table.
	The National College does not hold information in respect of the number of headships advertised by schools requiring the NPQH qualification.
	
		
			 Region Phase Total 
			 East Midlands EY Setting 1 
			  Middle Deemed Secondary 1 
			  Not applicable 15 
		
	
	
		
			  Primary 88 
			  Secondary 23 
			    
			 East of England EY Setting 1 
			  Middle Deemed Primary 1 
			  Middle Deemed Secondary 11 
			  Not applicable 24 
			  Nursery 3 
			  Primary 123 
			  Secondary 32 
			    
			 London 16 Plus 1 
			  Not applicable 27 
			  Nursery 1 
			  Primary 114 
			  Secondary 41 
			    
			 North East Not applicable 10 
			  Nursery 1 
			  Primary 45 
			  Secondary 13 
			    
			 North West 16 Plus 1 
			  Middle Deemed Secondary 2 
			  Not applicable 40 
			  Nursery 4 
			  Primary 123 
			  Secondary 30 
			    
			 Not Applicable Not applicable 12 
			    
			 South East 16 Plus 1 
			  Middle Deemed Primary 1 
			  Middle Deemed Secondary 1 
			  Not applicable 40 
			  Nursery 3 
			  Primary 147 
			  Secondary 35 
			    
			 South West EY Setting 1 
			  Middle Deemed Primary 1 
			  Not applicable 17 
			  Primary 108 
			  Secondary 18 
			    
			 West Midlands Middle Deemed Secondary 1 
			  Not applicable 24 
			  Nursery 5 
			  Primary 105 
			  Secondary 22 
		
	
	
		
			 Yorkshire and The Humber EY Setting 1 
			  Not applicable 17 
			  Primary 113 
			  Secondary 27 
			    
			 Grand total  1,476 
			 Notes: 1. Not applicable in Region denotes overseas participants. 2. Not applicable in Phase denotes either a role that is not phase specific (LA adviser) or overseas participant.

Teachers: Training

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) biology, (d) chemistry and (e) physics teachers who achieved Qualified Teacher Status in the last year hold a (i) first class, (ii) 2.1, (iii) 2.2 and (iv) third class degree in (A) any subject and (B) mathematics.

Nick Gibb: The latest available information on degree classification in (A) any subject and (B) mathematics held by (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) biology, (d) chemistry and (e) physics teachers who have achieved Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) can be found in tables A and B respectively.
	Fewer than 1% of science and physics teachers who achieved QTS in 2009/10 held a degree in mathematics. The number of teachers in each of these groups is therefore too small to be broken down by degree classification. There were no biology or chemistry teachers who achieved QTS in 2009/10 and held a degree in mathematics.
	
		
			 Table A: Classification of first degree held by mathematics, science, biology, chemistry and physics teachers achieving QTS status in 2009/10 
			  Classification of First Degree held in any subject  
			 Subject of teaching q ualification 1 (st)  (%) 2:1 (%) 2:2 (%) 3 (rd)  (%) Other/not known (%) Total (provisional) 
			 Mathematics 13 35 28 7 17 2,640 
			 Science 10 40 29 6 15 1,010 
			 Biology 10 49 29 3 8 1,130 
			 Chemistry 14 39 28 8 11 760 
			 Physics 13 32 32 8 15. 480 
			 Notes: 1. Percentages rounded to the nearest 1% and total rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding. 3. Figures for 2009/10 total are provisional and subject to change prior to future publication. 4. Includes both undergraduate and postgraduate courses through mainstream and employment-based routes. 5. Science includes Combined/General Sciences, Biology includes Applied Biology, Chemistry includes Applied Chemistry, Physics includes Applied Physics. Source: TDA Performance Profiles 
		
	
	
		
			 Table B: Classification of first degree held by mathematics teachers achieving QTS status through a postgraduate route in 2009/10 where the first degree is mathematics 
			  Classification of First Degree held in mathematics   
			 Subject of t eaching  q ualification 1 (st)  (%) 2:1 (%) 2:2 (%) 3 (rd)  (%) Other/not known (%) Other degree h eld Total ( p rovisional) 
			 Mathematics 7 13 11 4 5 59 2,490 
			 Notes: 1. Percentages rounded to the nearest 1% and total rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding. 3. Figures for 2009/10 total are provisional and subject to change prior to future publication. 4. Includes postgraduate courses through mainstream and employment-based routes. A small number of teachers who qualified through an undergraduate course are excluded. Source: TDA Performance Profiles

Teenage Pregnancy

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the number of girls in schools whose education has been interrupted by pregnancy in each of the last five years.

Sarah Teather: We do not hold data centrally on girls in schools whose education has been interrupted by pregnancy. However, guidance to schools and local authorities makes it clear that support should be directed to keeping pregnant pupils in school whenever possible and to return to full-time education as soon as possible after the birth. The Equality Act 2010 supports this policy. Under the Act it is unlawful for schools to treat pupils less favourably because of their pregnancy or maternity.
	England has declining teenage pregnancy rates; under-18 conceptions have fallen by 18.1% to the lowest rate in almost 30 years. I have provided data in the following tables on conceptions to under-16 and under-18 year olds from 2005 to 2009 and conceptions by single year age(s) from 2005-09.
	DFE and the Office for National Statistics are currently engaged in a project to link teenage conception records to the National Pupil Database which contains information on pupils’ demographic characteristics, school attendance and educational attainment. Analysis of this linked dataset should give us a better understanding of the demographic and education profiles of teenagers who conceive and then go on either to give birth or have abortions. This will help to inform further work to reduce teenage pregnancy and improve sexual health.
	
		
			 Table 1: Under-18  c onceptions for England: 2005-09 
			   Rate per 1,000 females aged 15-17 
			  Number of conceptions Conceptions (includes abortions and maternities) Conceptions leading to maternity 
			 2005 39,804 41.3 22.0 
			 2006 39,170 40.6 20.8 
			 2007 40,366 41.8 20.6 
			 2008 38,750 40.5 20.4 
			 2009 35,966 38.2 19.4 
			 Source: Office for National Statistics and DFE, 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Under-16 conceptions for England: 2005-09 
			   Rate per 1,000 females aged 13-15 
			  Number of conceptions Conceptions (includes abortions and maternities) Conceptions leading to maternity 
			 2005 7,473 7.8 3.3 
			 2006 7,330 7.7 3.1 
			 2007 7,718 8.3 3.2 
			 2008 7,123 7.8 3.0 
			 2009 6,774 7.5 3.0 
			 Source: Office for National Statistics and DFE, 2011 
		
	
	Data on number of conceptions and conception rates by single year age are available for England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 3: Conceptions by single year age for England and Wales, 2005-09 
			    Conception rate per 1,000 girls 
			   Number of conceptions Conceptions (includes abortions and maternities) Conceptions leading to maternity 
			 Under 14 (1) 2005 327 1.0 0.4 
			  2006 295 0.9 0.3 
			  2007 369 1.1 0.4 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 325 1.0 0.3 
			  2009 316 1.0 0.4 
			      
			 Age 14 2005 1,830 5.4 1.9 
			  2006 1,764 5.2 1.8 
			  2007 1,903 5.8 2.0 
			  2008 1,710 5.3 1.7 
			  2009 1,697 5.4 1.9 
			      
			 Age 15 2005 5,773 17.1 7.7 
			  2006 5,767 16.8 7.1 
			  2007 5,928 17.5 7.0 
			  2008 5,551 16.9 6.9 
			  2009 5,145 15.9 6.6 
			      
			 Age 16 2005 13,335 39.4 21.1 
			  2006 13,107 38.6 19.8 
			  2007 13,573 39.4 19.5 
			  2008 12,998 38.1 19.1 
			  2009 11,896 36.0 18.1 
			      
			 Age 17 2005 21,060 61.1 35.3 
			  2006 20,835 61.3 34.3 
			  2007 21,215 62.1 34.0 
			  2008 20,777 59.9 33.1 
			  2009 19,205 55.9 31.2 
			 (1) Rate per 1,000 girls aged 13 Source: Office for National Statistics